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Pushkar Fair

Each part of the state has some local festival to commemorate an event, a deity, or an important personage. The fairs and festivals of this Country are known for their beauty and liveliness, attracting both domestic as well as international tourists. If you do not have the time to go around visiting each and every part of a State, but still have a keen desire to understand their culture.

Many of the fairs and festivals of India are geared toward the tourist – the people who drive the economy of many of the states in India. While many of the fairs and festivals, such as Kumbh Mela,Goa Carnival,Diwali and Pushkar Fair are organized keeping the visitor in mind

Pushkar Fair:
Pushkar Fair is one of the oldest fairs in Rajasthan. The site holds religious significance for Hindus, who come here during the months of October to November to wash away sins in the holy waters of the lake near the Brahma Temple. The Pushkar Fair, held at the same time, is strictly commercial, in sharp contrast. It is a place for camel owners to sell and buy camels, as well as horses and mules. The fair, once a routine event, has today been upgraded to a world famous tourist extravaganza, thanks to the luxury Swiss tents with decorated flaps and attached baths, jeep tours, and air conditioned coaches to take visitors around.

Diwali / Deepawali:
Also known as the "festival of lights" Diwali is celebrated all over India and Goa with much enthusiasm and fervor. All homes are cleaned from top to bottom and are decorated with flowers and small earthen lamps around evening. Children burst firecrackers and burn effigies of the Demon king Ravana, known as Narakasur in Goa.

Goa Carnival:
The Goa carnival is synonymous with the state of Goa and is the manifestation of the quintessential fun-loving spirit of Goan's at its sublime best. Largely a legacy of the Portuguese era, the Goa carnival has transcended the confines of its religious roots. Seen in a wider context, the carnival of Goa is one of the several carnivals held in different parts of the world that precede the 40-day abstinence period of Lent.The Goa carnival is held for three days and preparation for this colorful extravaganza starts at least three months in advance.

Kumbha Mela:
Kumbha Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world! According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries.
Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela (means fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the following four locations of India:

Prayag, Allahabad (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three holy
rivers - Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
Haridwar (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas
Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of shipra river, and
Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.
The pilgrimage occurs four times every twelve years, once at each of the four locations. Each twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbha Mela at Prayag, attended by millions of people, making it the largest pilgrimage gathering around the world.