Fair / Mela – On a particular date / at a particular at a famous Place, where there is a mass meeting of many people, it is called a fair or Mela. Rajasthan Culture is Full of Mas Gathering of People from a very long Period of Time. Lets have a look.
NOTE : Urs – the literal meaning of Urs is marriage/union (soul to divine).
When the he soul of a Sufi met the God. On that day , Urs is organized in the memory of that Sufi saint.
Important fairs of Rajasthan
1. Badshah Mela – Beawar (Ajmer) – Chaitra Krishna Pratipada.
Todarmal Agrawal, one of the Navratna of Akbar Emperor, who got two and a half days of kingship of Akbar’s Court , the Badshah’s fair is organized every year by the Agrawal Samaj to Remember Todalmal, with the administration and public cooperation on the second day of Dhulandi.
2. Phooldol Mela – Ramdwara (Shahpura, Bhilwara) – from Chaitra Krishna Pratipada to Panchami – belonging to Ramsnehi sect.
The city of ‘Shahpura’ located in Bhilwara is a center of the followers of the international Ramsnehi sect. on second day of holi in shahpura
The famous annual phooldol mela is held.
3. Dhanop Mata Mela – Dhanop Village (Bhilwara) – From Chaitra Krishna Ekam to Dashami. in navratri
4. Sheetla Mata Mela – Sheel Dungri (Chaksu, Jaipur) – Chaitra Krishna Ashtami.
5. Rishabhdev mela (Kesariya Nath Ji mela / Ka La Bavji’s mela) – Dhuleva (Udaipur) – Chaitra Krishna Ashtami / Navami.
At dhuleva a black colored statue of Lord Adinath or Rishabhdev, the first Jain Tirthankara, is present. For the tribals here, this Kesariji is famous and worshiped by the name of “Kalia Baba”.
6. Jauhar Mela – Chittorgarh Fort (Chittorgarh) – Chaitra Krishna Ekadashi.
To pay homage to the brave women who committed Jauhar on the fort to protect self-respect and purity.
7. Ghotia Amba mela – (Banswara) – Chaitra Amavasya.
This is the biggest fair of Banswara district. It fills with the new moon of Chaitra month every year in which Tribals come from the states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujrat etc.
8. Vikramaditya Fair – Udaipur – Chaitra Amavasya.
9. Kailadevi Fair – Kailadevi (Karauli) – Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Dashami (mainly on Ashtami),
it iscelebrated by the devotees at Kailadevi fair. ‘Languria’ devotional songs are sung. It is also known as Lakkhi Mela.
10. Gulabi Gangaur – Nathdwara – Chaitra Shukla Panchami.
Nathdwara is considered as the main center of Vallabh sect.
11. Shri Mahavirji Fair – (Karauli) – From Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi to Vaishakh Krishna Dwitiya
Shri mahavir ji mela is the biggest fair of Jainism.
The Jinendra Rath Yatra is the main attraction here.
It is situated on the bank of river Gambhiri.
The Lathmar Holi is famous here.
12. Salasar Balaji Fair – Salasar (Sujangarh, Churu) – Chaitra Purnima/Hanuman Jayanti.
13. Fair of Bijasani Mata – Lalsot (Dausa) – Chaitra Purnima.
14. Dhinga Dhin Gavar Bantamar mela – Jodhpur – Vaisha Kh Krishna Tritiya.
afortnight after Holi every year in Jodhpur city. Dhinga Dhin Gavar is worshiped till Tritiya. On this occasion, women organize a Bantamar fair.
15. Gaur Mela – Siawa (Aburod, Sirohi) – Vaishakh Shukla Chaturthi.
16. Fair of Narayani Mata – Sariska (Alwar) – Vaishakh Shukla Ekadashi.
17. Banganga Fair – Biratnagar (Jaipur) – Vaishakh Purnima.
18. Matrukundiya Fair – Rashmi (Harnathpura, Chittorgarh) – Vaishakh Purnima.
This fair is held every year on Vaishakh Purnima in Harnathpura village located in Rashmi Panchayat Samiti area of Chittorgarh district.
19. Sitamata Fair – Sitamata (Pratapgarh) – Jyeshtha Amavasya.
20. Sitabari Fair – Sitabari Kelwa Da (Baran) – Jyeshtha Amavas
This is the biggest fair of Hadoti region. Sitabari fair is known as Kumbh of Sahariya tribe of Baran district fills in Sitabari near Kelwara.
21. Kalpavriksha Mela – Mangaliyawas (Ajmer) – Hariyali Amavasya.
22. Gurdwara Budha Johad Mela – Sri Ganganagar – Shravan Amavasya.
23. Lotis fair – Mandore (Jodhpur) – Shravan Shukla Panchami.
24. Parshuram Mahadev Fair – Sadri (Pali) – Shravan Shukla Saptami.
25. Virpuri Fair – Mandore (Jodhpur) – Last Monday of Shravan month.
26. Kajali Teej – Bundi – Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya.
27. Janmashtami – Nathdwara (Rajsamand) – Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami.
28. Goganavami – Gogamedi (Hanumangarh) – Bhadrapada Krishna Navami.
29. Fair of Queen Sati – Jhunjhunu – Bhadrapada Amavasya.
Every year a fair is held in the famous temple of Queen Sati in Jhunjhunu in the month of Bhadrapada. Under Sati Prohibition Act since 1988
This has been banned.
30. Fair of Ramdevra – Ramdevra (Runecha) (Pokaran, Jaisalmer) –
The biggest fair of Bhadrapada Shukla Dwitiya to Ekadashi of Baba Ramdev ji.
31. Fair of Ganeshji – Ranthambore (Sawaimadhopur) – Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.
32. Hanumanji’s Mela – Pandupol (Alwar) – Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi and Panchami.
33. Bhojan Thali Mela – Kaman (Bharatpur) – Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami.
34. Sawai Bhoj Mela – Asindsin (Bhilwara) – Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami.
35. Fair of Kalyanji – Diggi (Tonkton) – Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi.
36. Devjhuljhu Ni Fair (Charbhuja Fair) – Charbhuja (Rajsamand) – Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi (Jaljhuljhu Ni Ekadashi).
37. Fair of Babu Maharaj – Bari (Dholpur) – Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi.
38. Charbhuja Fair – Charbhuja (Udaipur) – Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi.
39. Dussehra Fair – Kota – Ashwin Shukla Dashami.
It is the third largest fair in the country.
First – Mysore (Karnataka)
II – Kullu (Himachal Pradesh)
This fair was started in 1579 AD by Rao Madho Singh, the first ruler of Kota, this tradition is still continues today after 400 years
40. Mira Festival – Chittorgarh – Ashwin Purnima (Sharad Purnima).
41. Annakoot Fair – Nathdwara (Rajsamand) – Kartik Shukla Ekam.
42. Garuda Fair – Banshi Paharpur (Bharatpur) – Kartik Shukla Tritiya.
43. Pushkar Mela – Pushkar (Ajmer) – Full Moon from Kartik Shukla Ekadashi – International fair and the most colorful of Rajasthan
44. Fair of Kapil Dhara – Baran – Kartik Purnima – This fair is related to Sahariya tribe.
45. Chandrabhaga Fair – Jhalrapatan (Jhalawar) – Kartik Purnima.
46. Sahawa Sikh Mela – Sahwa (Churu) – Kartik Purnima.
This is the biggest fair of Sikhism in Rajasthan.
There is a Gurudwara of Sahib in Churu district, of Guru Nanak Dev and the last Guru ‘Guru Govind Singh ji.
And the memories of living are attached.
47. Fair of Kapil Muni – Kolayat (BikaNer) – Kartik Purnima – The biggest fair of Jangal Pradesh
It is called Kumbh of Jangal Pradesh.
– People of Baran caste do not come to this fair.
