Traditional Fairs and Festivals of India | Indian Fairs and Festivals

India triumphs at attracting millions of tourists all over the world every year. India, being one of the most populated countries in the world, is not just known for the natural beauty but also for its diverse culture.

Moreover, India is one of the oldest civilizations where people still keep in touch with their roots. Their culture defines their beliefs, goals, practices, and values.

Fairs and Festivals of India is a blend of dance, music, food, art, and religion. They celebrate and embrace their culture with great zeal coupled with an aura of jubilation.

PUSHKAR MELA , RAJASTHAN

Pushkar fair takes place for five days every year during October –November . Competitions such as the “longest moustache”, “bridal competition” and “matka phod”  are the main draws while the camel race is the event which draws most tourist attraction .

In addition, camp in the most luxurious way and experience this spectacular event. Men buy and sell their livestock, which includes camels, sheep ,cows, ,and goats.

Also, the women go to the stalls, full of clothes, textiles bracelets, and fabrics. Every year thousands of people travel all the way to Pushkar, Rajasthan in order to catch a glimpse of  this magnificent celebration.

KUMBH MELA

Mela means fair and Kumbha means a pitcher in sanskrit. Hindus from all around the country gather for mass Hindu pilgrimage. These four fairs are held  at one of the following places on the banks of a river ; the Godavari at Nashik, the Yamuna and the invisible Sarasvati at Allahabad,  the Ganges (Ganga) at Haridwar, and the Shipra at Ujjain.

Hindus gather to bathe in the holy river to wash away their sins. Sadhus who refer to themselves as sannyasis and vairagis come specially for this event to chant and praise God.

SONEPUR MELA

Sonepur mela is held on the banks of the sacred river Ganga. It is is one of the biggest cattle fairs in Asia. It takes place on Kartik  Poornima which is the day of full moon. In fact, it takes place in the month of November in Sonepur ,Bihar.

Elephants ,buffaloes ,horses ,cows and various other pet animals like dogs and rabbits are traded. The elephants are decorated and put up for auction while tourists can touch and feed them during the auction

HEMIS GOMPA FAIR

The Hemis Gompa is one of the most grand fairs. It is held at the largest buddhist monastery, Hemis Gompa.

Devotees and travellers come all the way to witness this fair at Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. It commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava .The celebration exhibit traditions and tribal heritage.

Pre-Lamaism priest enact the eternal fight between the good and the evil through mask dances .These mask dances are called cham performance ,it is a part of the tantric tradition and worship.

These are some of the top traditional fairs which attract millions of tourists every year .You can always find some sort of rituals and celebrations since India is a country of Festivals. No matter what place you visit, India is a total paradise.