Indian fairs cover many areas of Indian society, including cultural, social, commercial, and religion. Many festivals in India have historically included large or small fairs. Indian fairs are vast in scope and cover a wide range of topics. This article will explain to you some of the Indian Fairs which will be helpful in Indian Art and Culture preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Indian Fairs

• Many Indian festivities have historically included large or small fairs. Consequently, fairs of significant magnitude are conducted during the holidays of Dussehra, Ganeshotsava, Id, Makar Sankranti, and even Muharram.
• Some fairs are self-contained and exist on their own. Indian fairs offer a wide range of topics and encompass many parts of our lives.
• A fair is a temporary assembly of people for a range of activities, including religious, entertainment, and economic activities.
• Thus, we find some people trading their wares, others participating in religious rites such as taking a dip in holy water, others engaging in religious debates, and still, others singing folk songs.
• Some others can be seen indulging in leisurely chat; wrestling bouts are not uncommon, and even local level leaders can be seen giving lectures.
• In India, various types of fairs are held in various parts of the country.

Important Indian Fairs

Kumbh Mela

• The Kumbh Mela is the world's largest religious gathering.
• Every day, millions of people come to the sacred river to take a bath.
• The mela (gathering) is conducted in four auspicious Hindu pilgrimage sites on a rotating basis: Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik-Trimbak, and Ujjain.
• According to Hindu legend, 'Amrit,' or the drink of immortality, was made and preserved in a 'Kumbh' during the 'Samudra Manthan,' or the churning of the ocean (pot).
• Lord Vishnu sprinkled drips of Amrit while bringing the Kumbh during the war between the Devas and the Asuras.
• The mela is held every three years at various locations and every twelve years at any given location.
• The exact dates are decided by the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter in the zodiac.
• Simhastha Kumbh is hosted in Nashik and Ujjain when a planet is in Leo (Simha in Hindu astrology) at the time of the mela.
• Ardh-Kumbh Melas are conducted every sixth year in Haridwar and Allahabad, and a Maha Kumbh is held once every 144 years.
• Every year in the month of Magh (January-February), Allahabad hosts the Magh Kumbh.
• The Kumbh is held in the following locations:

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Kumbh Mela

Sonepur Mela

• It is one of Asia's major cattle fairs.
• The mela takes place at the confluence of the Ganga and the Gandak rivers in Sonepur, Bihar.
• It usually takes place in November on Kartik Poornima, a Hindu festival day considered auspicious.
• It is the only fair where huge numbers of elephants are auctioned, and legend has it that Chandragupta Maurya used to go there to buy elephants and horses.

Chitra Vichitra Fair

• It is Gujarat's largest tribal fair, attended primarily by the 'Gharasia' and 'Bhil' tribes.
• The tribals dress up in their traditional garb and display their tribal culture.
• The tribal women travel to the river on the 'Amavasya' after Holi to mourn for their loved ones who have passed away. The celebrations begin the next day.
• Thousands of tourists visit each year to see lively dance performances, the best of rural handicrafts, and magnificent silver jewellery.

Shamlaji Fair

• Lord Shamlaji "the Dark Divine," who is supposed to be incarnate of Krishna or Vishnu, is honoured by a tribal community in Gujarat.
• Thousands of devotees flock to the Meshno River to worship the deity and take a sacred bath.
• The 'Bhils' have great faith in Shamlaji, whom they affectionately refer to as 'Kaliyo Dev.'
• It takes place in November for around three weeks, with Kartik Poornima being the most prominent day of the fair.

Pushkar Fair

• The Pushkar Mela is an annual fair in Rajasthan that takes place on Kartik Poornima Day and lasts roughly a week.
• It is one of the world's largest camel and cattle fairs. It is a period when Rajasthani farmers buy and sell cattle, but most of the business occurs in the days preceding up to the fair.
• Camels races, moustache competitions, turban tying competitions, dancing and camel riding, and other events take centre stage once the festival begins.
• Thousands of people attend the fair, which is also popular with tourists from other countries.

Desert Festival

• In February, Jaisalmer hosts this three-day spectacle.
• The festival celebrates Rajasthan's colourful culture. It gives visitors a taste of the local culture and highlights many aspects of Rajasthani culture.
• Colorful traditional dances, trips to the dunes, tying competitions, camel rides, and other activities are available among Rajasthan's golden sands.
• Under the moonlight, the event concludes with a musical performance by folk singers. It's no surprise that the desert event is on every foreigner's bucket list.

Kolayat Fair (Kapil Muni Fair)

• Bikaner, Rajasthan hosts the Kolayat fair. On Kartik Poornima, devotees flock to the holy Kolayat Lake to wash away their sins.
• The fair is named after the renowned sage Kapil Muni, who dedicated his life to meditation to serve humanity.
• There will also be a huge cattle fair. Thousands of tourists go to the site to see the magnificent exhibition of Rajasthani culture and history.

Surajkund Crafts Fair

• This is an annual international crafts show held near Faridabad, Haryana, for a fortnight starting on February 1st. It highlights regional and worldwide crafts and cultural heritage.
• This festival brings together traditional craftsmen from all over India.
• The kiosks not only offer crafts, but they also host workshops so that the public can learn how to make them.
• Ceramics, weaving, sculpting, embroidery, Paper Mache, bamboo and cane crafts, as well as metal and wooden works, all draw a lot of interest.
• Traditional cultural performances are held, and regional cuisines are supplied, to give the fair a truly Indian flavour.

Gangasagar Mela

• It takes place near the mouth of the Hooghly River in West Bengal throughout January and February.
• Hindus consider a sacred dip in the Ganges, especially on Makar Sankranti day, to be extremely auspicious.
• Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the site. The presence of Naga sadhus gives the fair a distinct identity.

Goa Carnival

• The Goa Carnival was brought to India by the Portuguese. It takes place 40 days before Lent, a time of fasting and spiritual reflection.
• It entails food and merriment. People come out in masks to party in the streets. It is a tribute to Goa's rich past and culture, with a strong Portuguese influence.
• The celebration, which attracts thousands of tourists every year, is marked by colourful floats and parades, as well as live bands and dancing.

Hemis Gompa Mela

• The Hemis Gompa fair is a religious event that is considered one of India's most auspicious occasions for the Buddhist community.
• The world-famous Hemis Gompa, often known as "the world's largest Buddhist monastery," is located in Ladakh and hosts a magnificent fair in January/February.
• The famed Hemis Gompa is hidden within the Hemis National Park, surrounded by mountain peaks.

Chandrabhaga Mela

• The Chandrabhaga Mela, also known as the Magha Saptami Mela, is a large fair held in February near Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
• Every year, during the full moon phase, the important fair and celebration is held at the sacred Chandrabhaga River.
• Thousands of people flock to the holy Chandrabhaga River to bathe during the seven-day fair.
• The main places to visit in the tribal-state are the famed Konarak Sun Temple, Math, and Archaeological Museum.

Ambubasi Fair

• The Ambubasi Fair is one of several religious fairs and festivals held throughout India.
• Every year during the monsoon, the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam, hosts a three-day traditional fair.
• For the three-day customary fair, tens of thousands of devotees from all across the country flocked to the Kamakhya Temple.

Baneshwar Fair

• During February, the Baneshwar fair is the most popular tribal fair in Rajasthan's Dungarpur district.
• This is a religious fair where Lord Shiva is worshipped using basic and traditional practices.
• This fair attracts a large number of tribals from Madhya Pradesh's neighbouring states.

Conclusion

There are numerous characteristics of Indian festivals and fairs that have the potential to draw tourists. Trade shows are a recent addition to the Indian fair tradition. They take place at various times throughout the year in various locations of the country. Throughout the year, Pragati Maidan in Delhi is a popular location for similar trade exhibitions.