When: 01-04 February, 2017
What: Cattle Fair
Where: Nagour, Rajasthan
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The fairs and festivals of Rajasthan have a unique significance and impact not only on the lives of the native people but also on the visitors. One such festival is the Nagaur Festival. The city of Nagour lies somewhere between the realms of Jodhpur and Bikaner, and is old enough to even find a mention in the Hindu mythological legend, Mahabharata. The picturesque city finds its first mention in the history back in 1242 and is known as the land of fairs for the participation and enthusiasm of rural communities at these fairs. The city, apart from its rich history and heritage, finds noticeable mention in the travel diaries for its exclusive Nagaur fair which is held annually. The fest holds the title of being the second largest cattle fair in the state of Rajasthan.
The 'mirchi bazaar' at Nagour Fair. Picture credits: The Hindu.
The most notable things to watch in this festival is two lakh ten thousand animals including horses, cows, bullocks, oxen and camels are gathered at the cattle fair for the purpose of trade. The fair involves a whopping number of cattle participation with over 70,000 bullocks, horses, sheep and around 25,000 of camels. The fair comprises of exhibition, styling and trading of cattle along with a series of art and craft show. A number of competitions also grace the occasion attracting a lot of tourists. Popular competitions include camel race, cockfights and tug of war among others. Soaking in the spirit of festivals, the owners bring their cattle decorated in colorful attires and take pride in dressing up themselves too. Another highlight is the 'Mirchi Bazaar' (The chilly market) which also happens to be the largest chilly market in India. The exhibition stalls at the festival also display a wide range of handicrafts and artwork the city excels in. These include wooden items, Iron artifacts, puppeteers, camel leather accessories, jugglers and handmade souvenirs.
