The largest fair of Bikaner, in India’s desert state of Rajasthan, the Kolayat Fair combines a huge cattle fair with a pilgrimage to the town’s holy lake. It’s quite a spectacle as buffaloes, camels, horses and cattle are traded, and pilgrims bathe and float clay lanterns in the lake.
Tourists also experience a great time as the fair is celebrated on an expansive scale between the month of October and November. The fair is also known as ‘Kapil Muni Fair’. The folklore of the fair is not the only attraction in fact it also has a great religious significance. It is believed that a holy dip can provide them respite from all the sins they have done. The historical significance of the fair also lures a large number of tourists. As history says, the place of Kolayat is also regarded as Kapilayatan. Though people visit this place all round the year, it is considered highly auspicious to visit Kolayat and take a dip during this holy fair. There are several temples near the lake and the most famous one is dedicated to the sage Kapil Muni. It is believed that a day’s stay at Kolayat is equivalent of spending 10 years at any other holy sacred place.
On Kartik Purnima, Deep Malika is performed in the evening where devotees float clay lamps in the sacred lake as part of the ritual. The thousand of diyas (clay lamps) floating in the lake is just a mesmerizing sight to behold. This evening in Bikaner is beautifully filled with the holy chanting and divine rituals that gives a magnificent experience to the tourists and visitors.
