Fair & Festival of Rajasthan Desert Festival Jaisalmer (Jan-Feb) For three days Jaisalmer gets a chance to parade its charms to the world. Some chosen and cherished moments of its glorious pas and rich culture are on display. The traditional dances accompanied by high pitched music on instruments take the folk dancers one step back into time. The famous Gair dancers and the fire-dancers steal the show wheever they perform. There is further excitement afoot with the turban-tying competition and Mr. Desert contest. The grand finale is a trip to the sand dunes at Sam where one can enjoy and have the pleasure of a camel ride and at times also view the musicians and dancers performing on the dunes. Gangaur Festival Jaipur (Mar-Apr) Gangaur is the most important local festival in Rajasthan. It is dedicated to gauri, a mani-festation of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and the symbol of conjugal bliss and marital happiness. A festival of maidens and married women, it begins on the day following Holi and is celebrated for eighteen days. Colourful wooden images of Gauri are beautifully dressed and bejeweled. Offerings are made in each home. The women add to the excitement by singing and dancing. Processions are taken out with the town band. Playing Escorts walk alongside thir horses, followed by elaborate palanquins. In Jaipur then procession starts with the image of Gauri from the palace gate, known as the palace gate, known as Tripolia, through the main street. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Jaisalmer.During the festival, in the Hadoti region of Bundi, Kota and Jhalwar, the fields are covered with blossoming poppy flowers. Maidens go forth to collect these flowers to make wreaths for the Goddess. The Garasia tribals who live in the Sirohi-Mount Abu region, celebrate Gangaur for a complete month. An unusual feature of their celebration is the procession of the Gangaur image from village to village. The tribal youth have an opportunity of meeting freely and during the this time, they select parterns and marry by eloping. A romantic but strange custom, sanctioned by society. Elephant Festival, Jaipur (Mar-Apr) A festival when the mighty mammals claim the center stage. They stride majestically parading their decorated trunks and tusks. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, followed by folk dancers at their entertaining best. Spectators are enthralled with the elephant-polo matches. The sight of these heavy animals running to win the famous elephant race is truly amazing. The most hilarious highlight of the festival is a tug of war between elephants and men. A special show is also held after which a prize for the best decorated elephant is announced. Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer Held, according to the Lunar Calendar, in the memory of the saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, it is one of the biggest Muslim fairs in India. The six- day time that the saint is said to have gone into seclusion, to shed his mortal coil off and free his soul, are dedicated to his memory. Pilgrims from all over the world gather here to pay homage. Quawwalis are sung and poets recite verses specially composed in the saint’s honour. Kheer, a milk pudding is cooked in the vast sixteenth century cauldrons, placed within the premises of the outer court. Teej, Jaipur (Jul-Aug) This festival of lswings marks the advent of the monsoon month of shrvan (August). The monsoons bring water to the parched land and scent of wet earth rises intoxicatingly in the air. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls sing songs of love and rain. This festival is dedicated to Pushkar Fair, Ajmer (November) Of singular importance is the annual fair held at pushkar, near Ajmer. Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy waters of the Pushkar lake. Legend has it that the lake appeared miraculously on the spot, where petals of a lotus blossom feel from the hands of Lord Brahma, the creator. Pushkar has an atmosphere of an ancient religious town, peaceful and secluded. But, for twelve days in the month of Kartik, it is transformed into a spectacular fair ground. The fair is overwhelming in its magnitude and in its visual impact. Vendors peddle their dazzling range of wares in hundreds of roadside stalls. Beautiful camels rached and paraded are also bought and sold. Gaily canopied booths seeling snacks, sweetmeats, ice crushes, bangles, brassware, cloth and camel saddles and halters are a photographer’s delight. In the evening, the entire atmosphere reverberates with the ringing of bells. At night, hundreds of small oil lamps placed on green leaves, set the lake alight. Floated by worshippers after the arti puja, this act of worship is called ‘deepdan’. Camel Festival, Bikaner (January) A festival where the hardy ships of the desert are seen at their best. A colourful spectacle, the beautifully decorated camels fascinate the onlookers with their languid charm and grace. A celebration of joyous music, lilting rhythms and gay festivities. Holi (March) Holi is the most widely celebrated seasonal festival in North India. Falling during the spring equinox (March), it signals the end of winter and the coming of spring. Groups go around smearing one another with ‘gulal’ coloured powder. Coloured water is sprayed from pichkaris, the traditional spray-pumps. Humorous poetry sessions are held, not without a touch of ribaldry. Not without a touch of ribaldry. The burning of the effigy of the demoness Holika, signifies the triumph of Good over Evil.