Fast Facts
Venue: Nagaur, Rajasthan
Significance: Cattle Fair
Duration of Festival: 3 weeks
Month of Celebration: January/February
Next Date of Event: 10 to 13 Feb 2010 and 30 Jan to 2 Feb 2012
Reaching There: The nearest airport is at Jodhpur. Nagaur has its own railway station. A wide network of roads connect the place with other nearby places.
Nagaur Fair, RajasthanThe mundane life of Nagaur stimulates with the advent of Nagaur Cattle Fair held in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. The month of Magha bestows an exciting affair to the people of Rajasthan. This second largest cattle fair of Rajasthan is a good time to see the rustic charm of desert lands. The venue peps up with varied breeds of cattle, numerous village folks flaunting their vibrant turbans and long mustaches with women folks donning the gaudy Ghagra Choli and heavy silver jewelry.
The cattle fair is an invitation to many species of camels, horses, cows and bullocks. Most importantly, the bullock of the fair are considered the most sturdy. The festival is organized by the Department of Animal Husbandry in co-operation with the Department of Tourism. The recent records tell that almost 80,000 cattle owners become a part of the fair and more than 2,10,000 cattle are being traded. The tinkling of camels or sheep on their way back home reverberates in Nagaur.
Rituals of Nagaur Fair
The fair is a time to trade different sorts of cattle including horses, bullocks and camels. The whole region has resonating sounds of horse neighs, camel rumbling growls, and bull belows. The onomatopoeic ambiance of cattle lowing is a unique feature to the cattle fair of Nagaur. Traders and buyers are seen haggling for the best profitable bargain and cattle is are seen anxious to know about their new owner. The attractions of the fair include:
Gauri is is the symbol of virtue and fealty and such is the mythological role model of married women. So the festival is held in the name of her, to commemorate her. This most important local festival of Rajasthan has some folk beliefs associated with it.
Display of cattle and deal striking between buyers and sellers.
The dusk extends its arms to hug the whole weary atmosphere and musicians perform their best numbers. On one hand, the songs show valor and virtue and on the other they abound in tragedy and misfortune.
The chilly desert night gets warn and cozy with the camp fires.
The exciting Tug-of-War
The amusing Cock Fight
The rapid paced Camel and Bullock Race
Mirchi Bazaar a colorful red chilly market is the largest of its kind in Asia.
Wooden items, iron crafts and leather accessories are also available in abundance during the fair.
Ajmer
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