I. Fairs of Rajasthan:

Fairs of Rajasthan reflect its culture. The fairs held here are related with religion, folk deities, folk saints and folk culture. The activities of dance, singing, fetes etc. add to our mutual relation. Fairs are held in each and every part of Rajasthan. The fairs tradition started here in the medieval period when the rulers themselves took keen interest in organizing fairs. Fairs are organized at the religious places or on the occasion of festivals.

In Rajasthan the fairs are held on various festivals as Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, Ashtami, Teej, Gangaur, Shivratri, Janamashtami, Dussehra, Kartik Purnima etc. Similarly the fairs held in the religious places are Tejaji, Shitalamata, Ramdevji, Gogaji, Jambeshwaiji, Hanumanji, Mahadev, Aavarimata, Keladevi, Karanimata, Ambamata, Jagdishji, Mahaviiji etc. Most famous religion related fairs of Rajasthan are Balaji in Jaipur, Mahaviiji near Hindon, Nathdwara on Annkut, Dadhimati in Gothmanglod, Shivaratri in Eklingji, Dhulev in Kesaria, Bharthari near Alwar and Pushkar and Galta fairs near Ajmer.

Many fairs are held in Rajasthan to commemorate many folk saints and folk deities and to pay them homage. Some of these faris are Ramdeo in Runeeha, Tejaji in Parbatsar, Pabuji in Kolgarh, Gogaji in Daderwa, Karanimata in Deshnok, Fooldol in Narena (Jaipur) and Shahpura (Bhilwara), Jambheswari in Mukam, Gulab Baba in Gulabpura and Khwaja Saheb in Ajmer etc. There fairs are source of life and inspiration and promote peace cordiality and communal integrity and harmony. The fairs manifest the nature of culture and add to our feelings of goodwill for humanity. Fairs pass on from one generation to another and they continue to retain the cultural tradition. Fairs are commercially, too very advantageous and they are source of entertainment too.

II. Festivals of Rajasthan: 

All the communities as Hindus-Muslim and the Christians celebrate each others’ festival with a great enthusiasm and zeal and set an example of communal harmony, human unism, tolerance and acceptance for each other. Gangaur and Teej are among the main folk festivals from the Holika festival v and continues till Chaitra Shukla tritya. The married women whose husbands are alive and the unmarried women worship Ishar and Ishari for the long life of their husbands, and for being blessed with good husbands respectively. This festival is celebrated with great fervour and devotion in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur and Kota.

Gangaur chariot procession is taken out through the main places of these cities. Teej festival takes place on the third day of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada or Bhado. Swings, traditional songs and dancing are the unique features of Teej celebrations in Rajasthan. The women and the young girls dressed in new costumes, with mehandi paste decorating their hands enjoy swing and sing songs. The Teej Chariot procession of Jaipur is very famous. The festivals of Mahavir Jayanti and Paryurshan festival in the Bhadrapada month are celebrated by the Jain community with devotion and penances. The main festivals of the Muslim community are Eid-ulZuha, Eid-ul-Fitr, Shaberat, Muharram and Baràwafat. They are celebrated with full zeal and enthusiasm.

Main festivals of Rajasthan with the dates of their celebrations are listed below: