 Banganga Fair is celebrated every year in the historical township Bairat, situated in Jaipur district of Rajasthan, on the full moon day of Vaishakh, which falls in the months of April-May. The festival is famed for the reverence and devotion exhibited by the devotees. The celebrations are conducted near a stream or rivulet in the township, which is believed to have created by one of the Pandava brothers, Arjuna, by shooting an arrow for quenching the thirst of the dying Bhishma Pitamah, after the latter was badly wounded in the battle of Mahabharata. The area is believed to be inhabited by Viratpuri in the epic days. The Radha-Krishnaji temple, constructed by Shri Nadram Bakshi of Jaipur over 200 years ago, is also present near the site.
Pilgrimage at Banganga Fair Banganga Fair has immense religious significance. Devotees from distant places visit the fair to take holy bath, which is believed to wash away all the mortal sins, and pay homage to the sacred sites in the vicinity. Pilgrims hailing from Bharatpur, Jaipur, Behror, Alwar and many other places arrive to cherish this auspicious fair.  The devotees and pilgrims gather at Shri Radha Krishnaji's temple in the early mornings after which they take a holy bath in the sacred Banganga River. They sing devotional songs, also called Bhajans, at the ghats (a flight of steps leading to the water) of the Banganga River. A strong belief prevails among the devotees that the river has the power to purify the soul. People also visit the nearby shrines of Ganga Bihari and Hanuman along with the Math of Goaswamiji and the Mahadeo temple.
Other Activities at Banganga Fair Apart from the pilgrims, Banganga Fair also attracts traders and merchants belonging to different communities for selling their artefacts. A plethora of articles are sold at the fair including household items, toys, simple rural ornaments and many more. The selling and buying of various articles add to the charm of the fair and provides a brilliant opportunity to explore the rural heritage and lifestyle of the place. The fair also offers enthralling activities to the children such as merry-go-rounds and giant wheels. Scrumptious Rajasthani cuisine can also be savoured in the fair. Visiting Information The holy ambience and devotional activities of Banganaga Fair makes it a pleasant site to explore the vivacious cultural heritage of Rajasthan by the tourists. Bairat is located at a distance of about 85 kilometres from Jaipur and can be reached through regular bus services. (Last Updated on : 21-04-2014) |
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