Major Fairs of India
Major Fairs of India
1. Kumbh Mela :
Held every 12 years at four sites - Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, Ujjain - on the banks of sacred rivers. Millions gather for holy bathing believed to wash away sins.
2. Pushkar Fair (Rajasthan)
World-famous camel and livestock fair held near Ajmer during Kartik Purnima. Known for trading animals, cultural shows, folk dance and largest camel market.
3. Sonepur Fair (Bihar)
Asia’s biggest cattle fair held at Sonepur on the confluence of Ganga and Gandak. Famous for elephant, horse, buffalo trading and traditional rural exhibitions.
4. Chitra Vichitra Fair (Gujarat)
Largest tribal fair of Gujarat celebrated by Bhil and Garasia tribes. Known for cultural gathering, traditional attire, matchmaking and tribal customs.
5. Shamlaji Fair (Gujarat)
Religious fair dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Shamlaji Temple). Devotees gather for holy rituals, folk traditions, and cultural performances.
6. Kolayat Fair (Rajasthan)
Also called Kapil Muni Fair; held in Bikaner. Devotees take a holy dip in Kolayat Lake on Kartik Purnima to wash sins.
7. Desert Festival (Jaisalmer)
Tourist festival showcasing Rajasthan’s desert culture—camel races, folk music, dance, handicrafts, and competitions in Thar Desert.
8. Surajkund Crafts Mela (Haryana)
Held every February in Faridabad. India’s largest handicraft fair displaying pottery, weaving, embroidery, bamboo work and traditional artisans from all states.
9. Gangasagar Mela (West Bengal)
Held at the mouth of the Hooghly River on Makar Sankranti. Pilgrims take a holy dip and visit Kapil Muni Ashram.
10. Goa Carnival
Started by Portuguese; vibrant festival of music, dance, masks and street parades before Lent. Known for colourful celebrations.
11. Hemis Gompa Festival (Ladakh)
Held at Hemis Monastery. Famous for mask dances, Buddhist rituals and celebration of Guru Padmasambhava’s birth.
12. Ambubachi Mela (Assam)
Held at Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati. Celebrates the annual menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya; known as “Mahakumbh of the East.”
13. Chandrabhaga Fair (Rajasthan)
Held at Jhalrapatan; devotees take a dip in Chandrabhaga River on Kartik Purnima.
14. Nauchandi Mela (UP)
Held in Meerut; symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity with cultural programmes, trade stalls and fairs.
15. Magh Mela (Prayagraj)
Annual holy fair at Sangam during Magh month. Lakhs take bath to attain spiritual purification.
16. Shravani Mela (Jharkhand)
Devotees walk to Deoghar Baidyanath Temple carrying holy Ganga water during Shravan month.
17. Medaram Jatara (Telangana)
Asia’s largest tribal festival held every two years. Celebrates Sammakka-Saralamma goddesses with huge pilgrim gathering.
18. Thrissur Pooram (Kerala)
World-famous temple festival with decorated elephants, percussion music, fireworks and huge cultural displays.
Major Festivals of North-East India
1. Bihu (Assam)
Assam’s most important festival with three types - Rongali, Bhogali, Kongali. Celebrates harvest, fertility, new year, farming and traditional dance.
2. Hornbill Festival (Nagaland)
Known as “Festival of Festivals.” Showcases Naga culture, tribal dance, music, food and heritage at Kisama village.
3. Kharchi Puja (Tripura)
Major Hindu tribal festival worshipping 14 deities. Celebrates purification and earth’s cleansing with rituals and cultural shows.
4. Saga Dawa (Sikkim)
Buddhist festival marking Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Celebrated with prayer, monastery rituals and peace marches.
5. Cheiraoba Festival (Manipur)
Manipur’s traditional New Year. People clean homes, offer food to gods and climb hilltops for good fortune.
6. Losoong / Loing Festival (Sikkim)
Harvest and New Year festival of Bhutia community; includes archery, folk dance and homemade rice beer.
7. Ambubachi Mela (Assam)
Held at Kamakhya Temple; celebrates Goddess Kamakhya’s annual fertility. Largest spiritual gathering of Northeast.
8. Sekrenyi Festival (Nagaland)
Angami tribe’s purification and social bonding festival with rituals, dance and games.
9. Majuli Festival (Assam)
Celebrated on Majuli River Island; showcases Neo-Vaishnavite culture, Satriya dance, crafts and river traditions.
10. Wangala Festival (Meghalaya)
Harvest festival of Garo tribe honoring Sun-god. Celebrated with drums, dance and colourful costumes.
11. Dree Festival (Arunachal Pradesh)
Apatanis celebrate for good harvest and protection from epidemics, pests and drought.
12. Kang Chingba (Manipur)
A nine-day Rath-yatra festival of Vaishnavite tradition celebrating Lord Jagannath with processions and rituals.