 Rajasthan has an endless cycle of fairs and festivals during the year. They are possibly the most colourful and magnificent in the whole of India. Rajasthan Temple Festivals are well known all across western India for its colour and jollity. Some are held just to rejoice the kings' successes, while others have traditional, spiritual implication. Rajasthan has all the common Hindu and Muslim festivals that are celebrated in India, spiced up with the very special local enthusiasm as well as a number of festivals of its own. The exact dates of these festivals are determined by the Hindu lunar calendar and have precise religious significance.
Some of the popular temple festivals of Rajasthan are as follows: Ganesh Chaturthi: This festival holds an unusual place in Sawai Madhopur. The Ganesha temple in the fort of Ranthambore is one of the most famous Ganesha temples of Rajasthan. 
Navratri: Navratri is celebrated with great dedication and verve all across Rajasthan. Worship and fasting takes place throughout the day time though the nights are reserved for feasting and dancing. Gangaur Festival: Gangaur is the bright and the one of the most significant festivals of people of Rajasthan. This festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati. Gan resembles Lord Shiva and Gaur resembles Goddess Gauri. Gangaur Festival is the most vital local festival of Rajasthan and is observed in most of the temples of this state. Gogaji Fair: Gogaji Fair is celebrated in the recall of Gogaji who was believed as a snake king. Gogaji, also known as ‘Jahar Veer Gogga’, was a folk icon of Rajasthan in India. He was a warrior-hero of the province, recognized as a saint and a ‘snake-god’. Gogaji or Jahar Pir, one of the snake-kings, and a Chauhan Rajput, had a territory near Ganganagar in Rajasthan. 
Jambheshwar Fair: Jambheshwar Fair is one of the important fair of Rajasthan and of Bishnoi samaj. This fair is held twice a year. First on Phalguna Budi Amavasya and then second on Ashvin Budi Amavasya. Jambheshwar fair is held in the Mukam village of Nokha tehsil of Bikaner district. Jambheshwar ji was the initiator of Bishnoi samaj. Through the Jambheshwar fair, the visitors first go to the temple at Mukam and Devotees pay their honour by doing a regular to take some sand from the tank called ‘Talai’ at Mukam and deposit it at the foot of the bank at Samarthal. Kaila Devi Fair: The famed Kaila Devi fair held in shrine of Kaila Devi every year. The temple is situated on the banks of the Kalisil River in Karauli district of Rajasthan on the Trikut hills, 2 km from Kaila village. Kaila Devi is also well recognized as Lahura. In medieval times, Karauli rulers believe that Kaila Devi protects their state from any kind of attack.  Khatu Shyamji Fair: Khatu Shyamji Temple is a significant pilgrimage place in Rajasthan. Khatu Shyamji Fair is held following Khatu Shyam who is essentially worshipped as Lord Krishna. The history of this fair has started from the time of Mahabharata as Lord Krishna, who took the appearance of a Brahmin and asked for the head of Babhruvahan (Barbrik). He then placed the head on a small hill so that it could watch the war. Happy with the sacrifice, Krishna, then, blessed Babhruvahan to be worshipped as Shyam himself in Kaliyug.
Khetlaji Fair: Khetlaji Fair is held following Khetlaji who was a folk god of India who is chiefly celebrated in Rajasthan. The Khetlaji Fair is held in village Sonana of district Pali of Rajasthan. The Khetalji temple is the place where this two day fair is held every year in May-June in honour of Khetlaji. Mahavirji Fair: The temple of Mahaveerji is very attractive as outside and internal walls of the temple are richly decorated with gorgeous carvings and golden paintings to develop the appeal, impression and magnificence of temple. The Mahavirji Fair is celebrated on the eve of Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi to Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya which falls between March-April to honour the memory of Shri Mahavir Swami, the 24th Tirthankara called as saint of the Digambar Jains, in Chandangaon of Rajasthan. Apart from the above mentioned festivals, Rajasthan celebrates Dusshera, Diwali, Braj Mahotsav, Mewar Festival, Teej Festival etc. |
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