In this guide
On the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik, the small lake town of Pushkar, near Ajmer, fills with pilgrims bathing in its sacred waters, thousands of camels and cattle brought for trade, and visitors from around the world. The Pushkar fair captures the character of Rajasthan's fairs: religion, trade and celebration all at once. Rajasthan has hundreds of fairs and festivals; RAS asks about the major ones — where, when, for whom, and why.
Religious fairs
| Fair | Place | Timing | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pushkar | Pushkar (Ajmer) | Kartik Purnima (Oct–Nov) | Bathing in Pushkar lake; Brahma temple; one of the largest camel and livestock fairs in the world |
| Ramdevra | Ramdevra/Runicha (Jaisalmer, near Pokaran) | Bhadrapad (Aug–Sep) | Folk deity Ramdevji ("Ramsa Pir"), revered by Hindus and Muslims; a symbol of social equality |
| Karni Mata | Deshnoke (Bikaner) | Navratri (Chaitra and Ashvin) | Temple famous for sacred rats (kabas); deity of the Bikaner rulers |
| Kaila Devi | Karauli | Chaitra | Languriya songs; large gathering of devotees |
| Gogamedi | Hanumangarh | Bhadrapad | Folk deity Gogaji, the snake deity; worshipped by Hindus and Muslims |
| Tejaji | Parbatsar (Nagaur) and Kharnal | Bhadrapad (Teja Dashami) | Folk deity Tejaji, protector of cattle and against snakebite; also a cattle fair |
| Khatu Shyamji | Sikar | Phalgun | Major pilgrimage |
| Salasar Balaji | Churu | Chaitra and Ashvin Purnima | Hanuman temple |
| Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti | Ajmer | Rajab (Islamic calendar) — first six days | Sufi shrine; pilgrims of all faiths |
| Mahavirji | Karauli | Chaitra | Jain pilgrimage |
The tribal fair: Baneshwar
- Held at Baneshwar, in Dungarpur district, at the confluence (triveni) of the Som, Mahi and Jakham rivers.
- On Magh Purnima (Jan–Feb).
- One of the largest tribal fairs in India, attended mainly by Bhils; often called the "Kumbh of the tribals".
- Associated with the Shiva temple (Baneshwar Mahadev) and the saint Mavji.
Cattle fairs
Rajasthan's livestock economy gave rise to major cattle fairs, often organised alongside religious fairs:
- Nagaur (Ramdev pashu mela) — famous for Nagauri bullocks;
- Pushkar — camels, cattle and horses;
- Parbatsar (Tejaji) — cattle;
- Tilwara (Balotra) — the Mallinath fair, known for Tharparkar cattle and horses;
- Gomti Sagar (Jhalrapatan) — cattle fair.
Festivals
| Festival | Timing | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Gangaur | Chaitra (Mar–Apr), starting after Holi | Women worship Gauri (Parvati) for marital happiness; processions in Jaipur and Udaipur; unmarried girls pray for a good husband |
| Teej (Hariyali Teej) | Shravan (Jul–Aug) | Welcomes the monsoon; women in green, swings, songs; royal procession in Jaipur |
| Holi | Phalgun | Gair and Chang dances; Braj Holi in Bharatpur region; Elephant festival (Jaipur) historically |
| Diwali | Kartik | Lighting of homes and forts |
| Akha Teej | Vaishakh | Traditionally, many weddings — a concern for child marriage in some areas |
| Sheetla Ashtami | Chaitra | Worship of Sheetla Mata; Chaksu (Jaipur) fair |
Tourism festivals
The state government has developed festivals to showcase culture for tourists:
- Desert Festival, Jaisalmer (Jan–Feb);
- Camel Festival, Bikaner (January);
- Marwar Festival, Jodhpur;
- Mewar Festival, Udaipur (during Gangaur);
- Kite Festival, Jaipur (Makar Sankranti);
- Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF), Mehrangarh, Jodhpur.
Why fairs matter
| Dimension | Role |
|---|---|
| Religious | Devotion to deities and saints; pilgrimage |
| Economic | Livestock trade, crafts, local business, tourism |
| Social | Meeting of communities; marriage alliances; entertainment |
| Cultural | Folk music, dance, puppetry and crafts on display |
| Syncretic | Shared devotion — Ramdevji, Gogaji, Ajmer Sharif |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- On which day is the Pushkar fair held?
- At the confluence of which rivers is the Baneshwar fair held?
- Which folk deity is associated with Ramdevra?
- Where is the Karni Mata temple?
- Which festival marks the worship of Gauri by women in Chaitra?
Mains-style (50 words): What is the significance of the Baneshwar fair?
Mains-style (100 words): Discuss the social and economic importance of fairs in Rajasthan.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
Get the next RAS guide by email
New guides every week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.