10 Biggest and World Renowned Fairs of India
There are hundreds of festivals celebrated in India. Apart from festivals, there are also a large number of fairs in which millions turn up to attend. A large number of them are placed in the regions which have a great religious significance and at important places of pilgrimage. Some of these fairs are attended by tourists in large numbers and are one of the biggest gathering of the world.
Here is a list of 10 biggest and famous fairs of India.
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Khumb ka Mela
There is a famous saying in Hindi “Khumb ke mela me bichra hua bhai”(The brother who was lost in Khumb ka Mela). It signifies the impact of this fair in India and how many people attend it. It is celebrated in the four major towns of India at a gap of 12 years on the banks of holy rivers Kshipra, Godavari, The Ganges and the Yamuna. It is the world’s largest peaceful gathering and millions of pilgrims take a holy bath on major bathing dates and sadhus are the main attraction.
It was estimated that around 80 million people attended it in 2014 in Nagpur. That is the world record for biggest Human gathering!
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Sonepur Mela, Bihar
It is held on the full moon day (Karthik Purnima), usually in November. It is one of the largest livestock fair in the world and the biggest in Asia. It is held each year in Sonepur, Bihar on the banks of River Gandak and the Ganges. This month-long fair witnesses the trade of camels, elephants, buffaloes, cows, dogs, horses, rabbits, sheep, birds and guinea pigs. The roots of this fair can be traced back to the Maurya King.
Click next to see the Biggest Rajasthani Fair
Pushkar Mela, Pushkar
It is famously known as the camel fair. This festival takes place in Pushkar in Ajmer District. Pushkar is also famous for 14th-century Jagatpita Brahma Mandir which is the only Brahma Temple of the world. In this Fair, thousands of livestock buyers and dealers gather her and huge numbers of horses, camels and cattle are traded and it is estimated that more than 50,000 camels are decorated and raced in this fair. Apart from the cattle, Longest Moustache Competitions, Bridal Competition and Matki Fod are also the main attractions.
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Kolayat Fair, Bikaner
This fair is one of the most colorful fairs of Rajasthan. Kolayat Fair is the largest fair in Bikaner and it is scheduled on Karthik Poornima. Kolayat is a historical centre of pilgrimage where the Vedic sage, Kapila is believed to have shed his body under a Peepul tree. In this fair, all 52 ghats are decorated and it is said that it has the same significance as living at any holy place for 10 years. The beauty of this fair can be seen when thousands of lighted lamps float over the Kapil Sarovar Lake.
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Hemis Gompa Fair, Ladakh
This fair is held in the beautiful lands of Ladakh to celebrate the birth anniversary of Padmasambhava, the spiritual leader and the creator of Tibet Tantric Buddhism. It is celebrated on every fifth month’s 10th day of Tibetan lunar calendar. It is a 2-day fair and it is known as the vivid and huge fair. There are various types of folk dance and plays performed and it is a major tourist attraction. Most performances are in Hemis Gompa “the biggest Buddhist monastery” of the world and hence, the name of the fair.
Click next to see the Fair of Orrisa
Chandrabhaga Mela, Orrisa
Chandrabhaga Mela of Orrisa is held each year in the month of February. It is set aside to worship the famous Sun Temple of Orissa at Konark. It is attended by Lakhs of pilgrims as it is one of the most colorful and religiously significant festival.
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Gangasagar, Bengal
It is the largest Fairs of West Bengal held on the islands of Sundarbans. Celebrated on Makar Sakranti, it attracts lakhs of devotees. It is the time when Sun makes a transition to Capricorn from Sagittarius. Devotees take a dip in Ganga and it is said that the bath becomes a holy source of salvation. The dip is followed by ‘Puja’ at the Kapil Muni Temple or Ashram. It is a charming tourist destination, which attracts both pilgrims and adventure lovers.
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Ambubachi Fair, Assam
This is the biggest fair of Eastern India. It is held every year in Kamakhya Temple during monsoon at Guwahati and it falls during Ahaar (Mid June). It is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamakhya when Bhramaputra river is in spate. The chanting mantras, the devotees busy in Puja make this fair very interesting.
Click next to see the colorful fair of Rajasthan
Gangaur, Rajasthan
Gangaur is one of the biggest festivals in Rajasthan. The fair of Gangaur is held at many places like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Nathdwara etc. In this festival, young girls in their best dresses pray for their desired spouse and the married ones pray for the goodness of their partners. The Statue of the goddess is decorated and is taken out in streets of the cities. The procession of women is taken to the tank, garden or well with pictures of Gauri and Isar on the heads of married ladies and they sing songs about the goddess.
Click next to see another such fair of Rangeelo Rajasthan
Baneshwar Fair, Rajasthan
This fair is celebrated in the Dungarpur district of Rajasthan. Baneshwar refers to the “Master of the Delta” which comes from the Shiva Linga which is worshipped in the Dungarpur’s Mahadev Temple. It is mainly celebrated by Bhil community of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh gather at the confluence of the Mahi and Som Rivers. This festival has a lot f religious significance and there are a lot of fun songs, dances and shows going on in this festival.
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