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Held every year in the month of
November, Pushkar fair is the ideal occasion to witness the
charisma of Rajasthan in full bloom. Every ingredient that makes
Rajasthan a distinct place can be spotted in the fair including
men dressed in colorful traditional clothes, women in mirrored
skirts and vivid shawls, embroidered clothes, exquisitely designed
jewelry, pots and ornaments. This four-day long fair full of fun
and frolic falls on the full moon of Kartik Purnima and offers an
unique opportunity for a shopping spree while giving an edge to
the consumer product marketing in rural Rajasthan. Improved
accommodation facilities have made it an International event A
large camel fair in which traders from all over Rajasthan
participate to parade, race and trade their camels, horses and
cattle give it a fascinating touch. The acrobats, jugglers, snake
charmers and fire-eaters will leave you mesmerized with their
skilled performances. Cruise on a camel safari and get the real
flavor of the fair.
This festival associated with Lord
Krishnas birthday and is a combination of religion and celebration
together. This festival is celebrated all over India especially
among Hindus. Mathura, the ancient north Indian town, is Krishnas
birthplace, and it is one of the most sacred places in the entire
country. People celebrate this festival with fun, frolic, and
merrymaking. The raasleelas, bhajan, kirtan, and various local
functions are the special attractions of the place. The festival
of Janmashtami is celebrated during the month of August or
September depending on the Indian calendar. The celebration of
this festival is followed according to the Indian calendar and
hence the month in the English calendar varies every year. This
day also falls on the day of Shravan Poornima when the monsoon
season is at its high in most of the part of India.
Karni Mata Fair is held twice a
year at Deshnok, a small town near Nokha in Bikaner district. The
first and larger fair is held in March-April during the Navratras
from Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi. The second fair
is held in September-October, also during the Navratras, from
Ashvin Shukla to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi.
Karni Mata was an ascetic who led a righteous life dedicated to
the service and uplifting of the poor and downtrodden of all
communities. It is believed that she possessed supernatural
powers. The foundation of Deshnok was laid by her and she has been
worshipped as a goddess by her principal followers, Charans, as
well as the rulers of Bikaner, who regarded her as the patron
deity. The Karni Mata Fair is held in her honour.
The Karni Mata temple at Deshnok is a stone and marble structure
and is also known as Madh. Inside the shrine, a 75 cms. image of
Kami Mata adorned with a mukut (tiara) and garlands is installed.
Her image is accompanied by the images of her sisters and the
sisters of Avad Mata. The Rajputs bring their children on Jadula
(their first hair cut) and place them at the deity's feet for
blessing.
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