Fairs & Festivals

TEEJ: Another festival dedicated to the worship of Shiva and Parvati, this time it is married women who pray for a long, happy marital life during the monsoon months of July-August. Though celebrations are held all over the state, they are particularly colorful in Jaipur where a procession wends its was through the heart of the old city. Women dress in their finery and spend time in groups at swings that are specially erected for the festival.

Gangaur Fair: Idols of Issar and Gangaur, manifestations of Shiva and Parvati, are worshipped by women, and particularly those unmarried who pray for a consort of the like of Shiva. Celebrated all over Rajasthan, it has women taking out processions through the streets of towns, carrying images of the divine couple. The festival is especially colourful in Jaipur.

Elephant Festival: On the occasion of Holi in Jaipur, this festival of pachyderms includes several interesting attraction including elephant polo. The caparisoned elephants, their bodies painted with floral decorations by the mahouts, are a sight to behold.

Sitla Mata Fair: A large fair is held to propitiate the goddess of war whose wrath can be the terrible scrouge of smallpox unless appeased by her followers. Consecrated food on this day consists of stale food left out the previous night. The fair is held in and around the temple dedicated to the goddess in Amber, Jaipur.

Chaksu Fair: A gathering of people from Jaipur's rural pockets collects here in almost all forms of transport - laden into tractor trolleys and jeeps - at what must be one of the most colourful events on the Rajasthani fair calendar.