Fairs – The Fabric of Indian Culture

The fairs and festivals of India are significant events embalmed in Indian culture, which are the major attractions of tourism in the country. These events giving scope for all sections of  society interact on religious mission and organized in all parts of the country with a  bit of commercial activity.

Indian Sub Continent Reflecting its Culture through its Fairs in Rural Setting

The Fairs of India

There are notable and unique events of Fairs in every part of the country, each having its particular mission and method of organization. For instance, Kumbh Mela, a religious event for people of particular faith, conducted for a fortnight period, is a kind of fair conducted in Uttar Pradesh.

While Festivals are common in most of parts of India, Fairs are unique with regions and locations. There are fairs organized for different unique reasons some of the fairs are:

• Bandra Fair is a fair going for a week in the suburbs of Mumbai, held in the month of September on a Sunday to commemorate the fame of Mary, the mother of Jesus and it is organized at Mount Mary Church, Bandra.
• Gwalior Trade Fair is a fair conducted in Madhya Pradesh State which was started in 1905AD by the Maharaj Madho Rao where in the evenings lot of literary interactions like Kavya Sammelan is conducted.
• Kadalekai Parishe is a fair conducted in Bangalore, Karnataka, which is an annual groundnut fair conducted for two days at Dodda Ganesha Temple in Basavangudi.
• Mandi Shivratri Fair is another annual fair held for 7 days following Shivratri mahotsav during February/March according to dates arrived at in Hindu calendar in Mandi town, Himachal Pradesh.
• Shaheedi Jor Mela is a fair organized in December every year in Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab to pay homage to martyr Baba Zorawar Singhji and Baba Fateh SinghJi, the youngest children of the tenth Guru of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singhji.

General Nature of Fairs

The fairs and festivals are mostly celebrated at the change of seasons or they belong to some religious faith or belief. However, most of the fairs are conducted in rural setting and trading of cattle is predominant in them. Buying and selling of different agricultural products are also the significant features of these fairs. Some fairs are in commemoration of a valorous incident or happening. There are fairs to celebrate the wedding ceremony or heroic events of the heroes of Epics.

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