India is widely known as the land of exotic fairs celebrating the vibrancy of life through a riot of colors or bringing alive the rich cultural heritage of the country through the folk dances or songs. The fairs in India are multifaceted with varying themes and so if there is the Surajkund mela highlighting the artisan skills of the country, there is also the Elephant March or the Pushkar Mela, the largest Camel fair in the world.

The Ambubasi Fair

The Ambubasi fair is organized every year during monsoon in the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. An important feature of this fair is the worship related to the tantrik cult. It is associated with the legend of menstrual cycle of the Goddess Kamakhya and accordingly the temple remains closed for three days, at the end of which the devotees throng to perform puja. It is held during the monsoons and an interesting phenomenon is that it rains almost the entire week when it is celebrated. This is considered auspicious; as the local belief is that rain purifies earth, making it ready for harvesting. The presence of sadhus from all over the country and the local handicrafts being sold, mingle and add a riot of color to the festivities.

Getting There

Guwahati is well connected with a good network of road, rail and air.

Chandrabhanga Fair

One of the most popular fairs held in Orissa, the Chandrabhaga fair is held on the seventh day of Magha (January-February) at a beach close to Konark in Orissa for seven days. It is held in the honor of the sun god who is said to have cured Sri Krishna's son of leprosy. The main feature of this fair is the rath yatra of the Sun God in his chariot and the devotees form a beeline to seek divine blessings. Though essentially a religious event, entertainment adds variety and color to the affair and mobile vendors selling everything from toys to amulets and religious mementos make hay when the sun shines.

Getting There

There is no air link to city. The nearest railheads are also at Puri and Bhubaneswar. These two stations are connected to all the major cities in India through long-distance trains.

Kumbh Mela

The kumbh mela holds a hypnotizing sway on the minds of the people of India. Held every three years by rotation, on the banks of the Godavari in Nasik, the Shipra in Ujjain, the Ganga in Haridwar, and the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, the mela is the congregation point of all Hindus who believe a dip in the holy waters will cleanse them of their sins, help achieve spiritual salvation and free them from the cycle of birth and death. The Maha Kumbh, on the other hand is held after every 12 years, and is held only in Allahabad.

Nauchandi Mela

Held on the second Sunday after Holi every year in Meerut, in Uttar Pradesh, the mela is a symbol of communal harmony. Both Hindu and Muslim shrines like the Nauchandi Temple and the dargah of Bala Mian, a Muslim saint are situated nearby, and so the mela is a meeting point of both the communities.

Getting There

Meerut is roughly two-hour drive from Delhi and the city is well connected by road routes.

Pushkar Mela

Held on the banks of the tranquile Pushkar Lake, Pushkar mela attracts the devout aplenty who come here to seek spiritual salvation.the general belief is that for five days every year, all Gods visit Pushkar and shower their blessings on those congregated there. Another interesting feature of the fair is the mass trade of camels, which takes place. Over 25,000 camels are traded, making this world's largest camel fair.

Reaching There

Pushkar is situated 11 kms North of Ajmer, which is well connected with Jaipur and Delhi by road and rail.

Surajkund Crafts Mela

Basically a crafts mela, the craftsmen from all over the country gather at Surajkund, a dusty little town in Haryana during the first fortnight of February every year and showcase their handcrafts and their colorful folk dances. It is the biggest artisan fair in the country and a meeting place of artists, painters, weavers, sculptors and craftsmen from all over the country.

Getting There

Surajkund is well connected by road to Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad. The nearest airport is Delhi. Delhi is also the nearest railway junction.