FAIRS Goa carnival (February) –Goa

FAIRS

Goa carnival (February) –Goa

In the south – west of India, in February, as the rigour and fasting of lent approach, the residents of Goa, specially of Panaji, give vent to an exuberance and zest for life in a carnival that lasts for a week.

This carnival, rivals the best in the world. Bright colourdful costumes, masks and flitrations favour the revelers. Processions follow processions. Geniously made floats ply down the picturesque roads. And for an unforgettable week exuberance and joy find a home amidst the sandy beaches and beauty of Goa.

Urs (April / may ) – ajmer sharif

New clothes and feasts at home for friends, acquaintance and strangers. At the fairs, the wonderland of saints, fakirst and pilgrims. The endless voices in gawalishing the praise of Hazarat Khwaza Moinuddin chishti, helper of the poor. Such an environment welcomes visitors at the Urs of ajmer sharif.

The fair, like all fairs in India, is just not a commercial venture. It si a great out – Pouring of culture. All nigh – long, qawalsals, regardless of religion, sing in the mehfil and poets sprout amides the shop, above the hubbuch n the streets.

Kulu Mela (September / October ) – Himachal Pradesh

To the north, Dusssehra, brings with it a fair in Kulu valley. It is time for gods and goddess to forsake their temples and adore the fields amidst the sun. Each village has its god.Theyare led ina  a noisy procession bymusicians and minstrels from their various high perches in the hills to the fields of KUlu bhelow.

Pushkar mela (Octoer / November) – Rajasthan

Pushkar, near Ajmer, in Rajasthan is famous place of Hindu pilgrimage Pushkar is famous for its large natural take and its temple dediated to Lord Brahma. On kartik poornima, or any of the four days preceding it, an annual festival is held here. During this fair animals from all parts of North India are brought here for sale.

Kumbha

Kumbha Mahaparva, a festival and fair of great antiquity and magnitude is held once every twlve years on the banks of Ganga at Hardwar. The ardha Kumbha and KUmbhis are heldat an interval of three years, between each other au Ujjain, Allahabad and Nasik.

KUmbha, which literally means a pot of water, is anastrological sign of the zodiac which corresponds to acquarius, the Water Bearer. The Kumbha symbolizes the descent of Ganga from Heaven into Shiva’s matted locks, the suspicious entryof Jupiter into the sign of  Kumbha once every twelve years when KUmbha is held; and the falling of mythical amrit (nectar) at Hardwar – all blend and fuse in the Hindu Psyche to make KUmbha the holiest of all festivals. The main ritual at the Kumbhha fair is having the dip in the river.

Rath Yatra of Puri

Puri, which is the abode of Lord jagannath (another name of Lord Krishna) is one of the seven  most sacred placesof Hindu pilkgrimage. During Sharavan (July /August) the presiding deities Krishna, his brother Balabhadra and sister subhadra are taken in three colossal chariots, built in the shape of temple to Gundichi Bari, near Puri, Every year thousands of Devotees come to Puri to tug the ropes of the chariot, to take Jagannath from the temple at Puri to his Suburban home at Gundichi Bari

Hola Mohalla

It is a Sikh festival held every year on  Holi at Anandpur Sahib. This festival is held in the form of a fair to commemorate the militarization of the Sikhs into the order of Nihangs (Warrior – Mendicants) by the last Sikh Guru Shri Govind Singh. The main focus of this fair is the display of martial arts like archery, sword fencing, horse – riding etc.

Kulu Dussehra

This week – long festival is celebrated with great comp and show, song and dance. On this day various gods are taken in splendid palanquins and taken to kulu maiden. Each of the numerous processions is led by musicians. Kulu Dussehra is the most important festival of Himachal Pradesh.