At a glance
- Kartik Purnima: the Pushkar, Kolayat and Chandrabhaga fairs all fall around the same full moon, so exams ask for the place.
- Kumbh of the tribes: Baneshwar is called the Kumbh of the tribals · Sitabari is called the Kumbh of the Sahariyas.
- Women's festivals: Gangaur in Chaitra · Teej in Shravan · Kajli Teej in Bhadrapad.
- Khalkani Mata donkey fair: according to one tradition, the Kachhwahas started it about 500 years ago to celebrate their victory over Chandra Meena.
Main fairs and festivals
- Pushkar FairCamel and livestock fairPlacePushkar, AjmerTimeKartik Shukla Ekadashi to Kartik PurnimaKnown forHoly dip in Pushkar Lake; the Brahma templeFull notes →
- Baneshwar FairBiggest tribal fairPlaceBaneshwar Dham, DungarpurTimeMagh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh PurnimaKnown forHoly dip at the Som–Mahi confluence; saint MavjiFull notes →
- GangaurFestival after HoliPlaceAcross Rajasthan; processions at Jaipur and UdaipurTimeChaitra Krishna Pratipada to Chaitra Shukla TritiyaKnown forWomen worship Gauri and IsarFull notes →
- TeejMonsoon festival of womenPlaceJaipur; Bundi (Kajli Teej)TimeShravan Shukla Tritiya; Kajli Teej on Bhadrapad Krishna TritiyaKnown forTeej Mata procession, swings and ghevarFull notes →
- Kolayat FairKapil Muni fairPlaceKolayat, BikanerTimeKartik PurnimaKnown forHoly dip and lamps at Kolayat Lake
- Sitabari FairBiggest Sahariya fairPlaceSitabari, near Kelwara, BaranTimeJyeshtha AmavasyaKnown forBath in kunds linked to Sita, Lakshman, Luv and Kush; also a cattle fair
- Gautameshwar FairPratapgarh's bathing fairPlaceNear Arnod, PratapgarhTimeVaishakh PurnimaKnown forHoly bath at Gautameshwar Mahadev
- Bhartrihari FairNath yogi's samadhiPlaceNear Sariska, about 35 km from AlwarTimeBhadrapad Shukla AshtamiKnown forSamadhi of Bhartrihari, a disciple of Gorakhnath; Nath sadhus gather
- Akha Teej (Akshaya Tritiya)Wedding and farming dayPlaceAcross RajasthanTimeVaishakh Shukla TritiyaKnown forMany weddings, as the day needs no muhurat (abujh sawa); farmers worship grain and farm tools
- Urs of Ajmer SharifSufi festival of AjmerPlaceAjmer Sharif Dargah, AjmerTimeFirst six days of Rajab, the seventh Islamic monthKnown forDeath anniversary of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
Cattle fairs
| Fair | Place | Time | Animals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramdev Fair | Mansar, about 5 km from Nagaur | Magh Shukla Pratipada to Purnima | Nagauri bulls |
| Baldev Fair | Merta City | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Purnima | Nagauri bulls |
| Veer Tejaji Fair | Parbatsar (then Nagaur district, now Didwana-Kuchaman) | Bhadrapad | |
| Mallinath Fair | Tilwara, on the Luni (then Barmer district, now Balotra) | Chaitra | |
| Gogamedi Fair | Gogamedi, Hanumangarh | Bhadrapad | |
| Gomti Sagar Fair | Jhalrapatan | Vaishakh, around Vaishakh Purnima | |
| Chandrabhaga Fair | Jhalrapatan, on the Chandrabhaga river | Kartik, around Kartik Purnima | |
| Mahashivratri Fair | Karauli | Phalgun Krishna, at Mahashivratri | Haryanvi cattle |
| Jaswant Fair | Bharatpur | Ashvin Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi | Haryanvi bulls |
| Khalkani Mata Fair | Bhavgarh Bandhya, near Luniyawas, Jaipur | Ashvin Navratri, Shukla Saptami to Dashami | Donkeys, horses and mules |
Tourism festivals
| Festival | Place | Time | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Festival | Jaisalmer | January–February, three days | Camel races, camel polo and the camel tattoo show on the dunes |
| Camel Festival | Bikaner | January | Dedicated to the camel; camel races and folk dances |
| Marwar Festival | Jodhpur | Ashvin | In memory of Rajasthan's heroes; first called the Maand Festival |
| Mewar Festival | Udaipur | Chaitra, with Gangaur | Isar and Gangaur images immersed in Pichola Lake |
| Kumbhalgarh Festival | Kumbhalgarh fort | December, three days | Folk performances and turban tying by day; music and dance at night |
| Summer Festival | Mount Abu | May–June, two days | Ballad singing; Gair, Ghoomar and Daph dances |
| Kite Festival | Jaipur | Makar Sankranti, 14 January | Kite flying; fireworks in the evening |
Remember: often mixed up
- Jhalawar or Jhalrapatanthe Chandrabhaga and Gomti Sagar fairs are at Jhalrapatan; Jhalawar is the district (CET Graduation 2022, RAS 2023).
- Tilwara or Parbatsarthe Mallinath fair is at Tilwara in Chaitra · the Tejaji fair is at Parbatsar in Bhadrapad.
- Mewar or Marwar FestivalMewar Festival (Udaipur) comes with Gangaur in Chaitra · Marwar Festival (Jodhpur) is in Ashvin.
- Month of the Ramdev fairMagh (January–February) according to Rajasthan Tourism and the Rajasthan Foundation; some exam books give Margashirsha.
Test yourself: asked in exams
CET Graduation Level 2022 · Q14
At which place in Rajasthan the Chandrabhaga Cattle Fair is organized in the month of Kartik?
- (1)Jhalawar
- (2)Jhalrapatan
- (3)Keshoraipatan
- (4)Sitabari
Show answer
✓ (2) Jhalrapatan
See the full paperRAS Prelims 2023 · Q132
The Chandrabhaga fair is held every year in the month of Kartik at –
- (1)Bundi
- (2)Banswara
- (3)Dungarpur
- (4)Jhalrapatan
Show answer
✓ (4) Jhalrapatan
See the full paperCET Graduation Level 2024 · Q74
Which fair was started by Kachhwaha’s to cherish their victory over Chandra Meena?
- (1)Bhartrhari fair
- (2)Pushkar fair
- (3)Khalkani Mata Donkey fair
- (4)Diggi Kalyan ji fair
Show answer
✓ (3) Khalkani Mata Donkey fair
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