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Fair Festival & Events

Gangaur Festival in Jaipur Rajasthan India

Gangaur is the colourful and the one of the most important festivals of people of Rajasthan. This festival is dedicated to Lord Siva and his wife Parvati. “Gan” resembles Lord Shiva and “Gaur” resembles Goddess Gauri. he festival commences on the first day of hindu calender month “Chaitra“. Newly wed girls fast for 18 days which is considered the full process of the puja and have one meal at a day. Many unmarried girls also keep the fast in belief of getting a good husband in their life. Women put mehandi on their hands and feet and make delicious sweets like ghevar and distribute it among their friends and relatives. Ghevar, a sweet dish of Rajasthan is popularly shared with friends and relatives.

Gangaur is consider to be the best time of year to select a life partner. Men and women from different places get the opportunity to meet and interact. Many pick there partners and marry. Gangaur is celebrated all over Rajasthan at the end of winter and the onset of spring most probably near holi. The Gangaur grand celebrations take place in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Nathdwara. In Udaipur, Gangaur coincides with the Mewar Festival.

On the final day of this festival, a procession with the image of Gauri, commences from the Zanani-Deodhi of the city Palace. This procession then pass through Tripolia Bazaar, Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazaar, Chaugan stadium and finally converge near the Talkatora.

Though celebrated throughout Rajasthan, the festival is a treat to watch in Jaipur and Udaipur. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer also. The procession to Pichola Lake is the spotlight of the Gangaur festival in Udaipur whereas the city of Jaipur wears a festive look all the time. The shops, houses and streets are beautifully decorated during this festival. The fair of ‘lotias’ is a distinctive feature of the Gangaur celebrations in Jodhpur. In Nathdwara, the procession of Gangaur lasts 7 days. The Girasia tribe, who live in Sirohi-Mount Abu region, celebrate Gangaur as a prolongation of festivities from Holi to Akshaya Tritiya – lasting for more than a month. In Banswara, the procession is taken out from the Zenana Deorhi to Singhvashi Chowk, both are areas within the palace compound. So, in this way its celebrated differently in various parts of Rajasthan.

Holding a special meaning to the Rajasthanis, this festivity is celebrated in honour of Gauri, the goddess of abundance. Young girls embellished in their best clothes pray for a spouse of their choice. The married ladies pray for the welfare and long-life of their husbands. Singing and dancing is the main part of the festival. Girls worship the goddess right through the fortnight.

The above mentioned are just a few glimpses of the festivities which take place in the magnificent state of Rajasthan. Rajasthan Tourism ensures merriment and care for all the tourists who participate in the fairs and festivals. There are plenty of more festivals that you shall discover when you plan your own Rajasthan Tours.

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Fair Festival & Events

Holi is colorful festival of India

Holi is the Indian Festival of Colors. It’s celebrated on the full moon. Holi falls in late March to early April in the western calendar. In 2015, it’s March 23. Holi is also called Phalgun Purnima or Pooranmash. It comes in the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun. Indians celebrate by tossing colored powder or spraying each other with colored liquid. Here are free printable Holi crafts, greeting cards and worksheets to help kids understand Holi. Teachers, use these for social studies. Home school parents, why not explore Holi with kids?

Colors of Holi

Holi celebrants can chose from natural colors such as tumeric, haldi, flower extracts, sandalwood and mehndi. These are cheap and can be prepared at home. Street vendors make it easy to be colorful and do a brisk business from their push carts. The use of colorful chemicals is discouraged for they can damage both the skin and the environment.

In India, Holi announces the arrival of spring and the passing of winter. The festival breathes an atmosphere of social merriment. People bury their hatchets with a warm embrace and throw their worries to the wind. Every nook and corner presents a colorful sight. Young and old alike are covered with colors (red, green, yellow, blue, black and silver). People in small groups are seen singing, dancing and throwing colors on each other. Though liquid colors are used in India (where it’s warm) we prohibit them, as we don’t want anyone to catch cold on account of the festival. Dry is better for photographs as well.

Modern Adaptation

Holi has long traditional links with several legends. According to one popular legend, the word Holi is derived from the demoness, Holika. She was the sister of Hiranya Kashipu (the name meaning love of gold and a soft bed), a demon king, who having defeated the gods, proclaimed his supremacy over everyone else in the Universe. Enraged over his son’s ardent devotion to Lord Vishnu, Hiranya Kashipu decides to punish him. He takes the help of his sister, Holika, who is immune to any damage from fire. Holika carries the small boy Prahlad into the fire but a divine intervention destroys her and saves Prahlad from getting burned. Thus Holi is celebrated to mark the burning of the evil Holika. Her effigy is consumed in the fire!

Holi is celebrated with special importance in the North of India. It solemnizes the love of Radha and Krishna. The spraying of colored powders recalls the love sport of Lord Krishna and His devotees.

The color, noise and entertainment that accompanies the celebration of Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of brotherhood. The festival brings home the lesson of spiritual and social harmony!!

Author is a professional content writer who has worked for over 50 brands across the globe. She has sound knowledge on festivals which are celebrated in India. She has written and published content on more than 30 festivals. In this article she has discussed about holi celebration. She has shared some ideas on how to celebrate holi.

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Kumbh Mela Allahabad Online Hotels and Tour Packages

Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimages of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. It is the world’s largest religious gathering. It is held every third year at one of the four places by rotation: Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayag), Nasik and Ujjain.

Thus the Kumbh Mela is held at each of these four places every twelfth year. Ardh (“Half”) Kumbh Mela is held at only two places, Haridwar and Allahabad, every sixth year. The rivers at these four places are: the Ganges (Ganga) at Haridwar, the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the Godawari at Nasik, and the Shipra at Ujjain. Mini Kumbh(Magh) Mela is held every year in Allahabad only

Kumbh Mela-Allahabad

The Magh (Kumbh) Mela is one of the greatest annual religious affairs for Hindus. Hindu mythology considers the origin of the Magh Mela to be the beginning of the Universe. An important occasion, the Magh (Kumbh) Mela is held every year on the banks of Triveni Sangam (the confluence of the three great rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) in Prayag near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.

In accordance with the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India, this holy fair is organised every year during the Hindu month of Magh (corresponding to mid January – mid February of the Gregorian calendar); hence the name.

The Magh Mela is, however, not confined only to the month of Magh and the important bathing dates are spread over a period of 45 days. The Magh Mela is actually a smaller version of Kumbh Mela. Hence it is also known as mini Kumbh Mela. Every year, the Magh Mela commences on the day of Makkar Sankranti in January, which is the first important bathing day according to the religious Hindu calendar. It begins with multitudes of pilgrims taking a holy dip at the Sangam on auspicious dates.

A large number of people arrive here annually and stay in makeshift houses or tents at the Sangam, spending the entire month of Magh in prayers. This period is known as “Kalpvas”. Those who religiously observe the “Kalpvas” are known as “Kalpvasis”. The ancient Hindu Vedas mention a “Kalp” to be the period equal to the total number of years in the four yugas – Satyug, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug. This adds up to several millions of years. It is said that by piously observing a “Kalpavas”, a devotee overcomes the sins in his/her previous birth and escapes the cycle of Janma(birth) and Karma (actions).

During each day of the Magh Mela, a Kalpvasi has to take a dip at the Ganges on sunrise praying to the rising sun. Majority of the Kalpvasis partake only a meal a day. After observing 12 Kalpavas, a Kalpavasi has to donate his/her bed and all his belongings (a ritual known as “Shayya Daan”).

The Uttar Pradesh government annually makes special arrangements for the devotees during this time. A greater number of buses ply to let the pilgrims have their journey in peace and without any inconvenience. A township of tents specially come up on the banks of the Sangam to provide shelter to the visiting millions who turn up from all over the country. Adequate medical and security arrangements are made to avoid any untoward incidents. “Lost and Found” camps are also set up and manned by the local police to prevent anyone getting missing during the days of the fair. Every twelfth year, the Magh Mela is transformed into the Kumbha Mela. Uttar Pradesh is flooded with millions of pilgrims who arrive here during this time to attend this grand event.

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Teej Festival And Celebrations In Jaipur Rajasthan (19 August 2023)

The festival Teej is celebrated with ultimate thrill and enthusiasm. The festival is celebrated with the outbreak of the monsoon season which is generally called as “Sawan Festival”. The festival is dedicated to the divine couple of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. The festival is highly celebrated in Rajasthan India and is highly popular in Jaipur. The state of Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh celebrates the festival at the arrival of monsoon after long summer season.

On the day of Teej festival married women pray to goddess Parvati for the well being of their husband. Colorful costumes, fasting for the whole day, song and dance with the religious procession are the most striking feature of the festival. The religious procession of the festival is the most attractive feature of the festival. Basically there are three types of Teej and they are as under:

Hariyali Teej: The festival of Hariyali Teej falls in Shukla Paksha of Sawan month. It is celebrated at the beginning of monsoon season. On this day, women wear green colored clothes. They worship moon, Lord Krishna and goddess Radha.

Kajari Teej: Kajari Teej is celebrated on the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of Shravan month (according to Hindu calendar). On this day women sings devotional songs and gathers near the Neem Tree and worships it. Special procession is carried on and goddess Parvati is decorated very beautifully.

Hartalika Teej: The day is having the most importance in the entire Teej festival. The Hartalika teej is celebrated for three days and for the three days married women observes fast and second day its Nirjara Fast which meaning ‘fast without water’ for the great devotion and lifelong prosperity for their husband.

Importance: Teej is the most awaited festival for the womenfolk which is as always the most colorful, attractive and vibrant. Both married and unmarried women perform the many joys and rituals of the Teej Festival to make it colorful and vibrant. Teej is the time to adorn oneself like a newly dressed bride. Therefore women shop for new clothes, jewelry and accessories. Mahanadi is another attraction for the women who keep fast for their husband and to be husband.

During the Teej festival the magnificent collection of Heena comes in the market. Teej is also known as the ‘festival of swings’ which marks the advent of the monsoon season. Sawan Teej festival is the time for the fun and jollity while performing the rituals and traditions.

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Gangaur Festival Celebration In Rajasthan 2025

Main Attraction:-             Reverence of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati

Overview/History:- Gangaur festival of Rajasthan is celebrated in reverence to Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. It derives its name from the words ‘Gan’ and ‘Gauri’, the former is another name for Shiv while the latter is used to address Parvati. The festival centers around women and all the rituals to be followed are observed by them. The festival is held in the month of ‘Chaitra’ as per the Hindu calendar. The festival rituals commence the day after Holi.

Celebration:- The festival celebrates the union of Shiva and Parvati which gives young girls and boys an occasion to interact with each other. It is an elaborate occasion and there are several rituals associated with it. These rituals include:

Collecting ash from Holika Dehan and burying seeds of wheat and barley in it and protecting them by watering till the seeds germinate.

Songs in praise of Shiv and Parvati are sung by women who also carry pots on their heads.

Women make clay images of both Shiva and Parvati.

A procession is taken by young girls and all of them place an earthern pot with holes and lamp inside on their heads. They distribute cash and other gifts on their way.

The final day of the festival sees images of Gauri being taken out in a procession accompanied by camels, bullock carts, horses and elephants. The procession is symbolic of return of Gauri to her husband’s (Shiv’s) home.

To mark the end of the procession, the girls break their pots.

Apart from these rituals, newly married women fast for the whole eighteen days of the festival and even unmarried women fast and eat only one meal a day in the hope to find a good husband. During this festival in Jaipur, a popular sweet dish called ‘Ghewar’ is distributed between families, relatives and friends.

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Holi festival 2023 ( Wednesday, March 08 )

Holi is a festival of colors, emotions, and happiness, celebrated primarily in India but now a days its celebrated in many parts of the world. The festival falls on the last full moon day of Falgun according to Hindu calendar. All age groups equally enjoys the festival and in villages dhamal ( local songs ) can be heard and the participants sings with full zeal and enthusiasm. Color powder and water is used to play now these things are replaced by herbal colors as the chemical colors cause various skin disease as well as can harm the eyes.
Festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil and a celebration of the arrival of spring and harvests to come.
One of the most important festivals in Rajasthan, Gangaur is celebrated to honor the goddess Gauri, a manifestation of Parvati (Lord Shiva’s wife) who represents purity and austerity. This festival is predominantly for women.

Holi in Rajasthan

The colourful state of Rajasthan plays Holi much the same way as Mathura. A night before the full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured water and powders (gulal and kumkum) at each other and make merry. Singing, dancing and the traditional beats of dhol add to the gaiety of the occasion

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