Fairs and Festivals of Uttar Pradesh
The multitudinous vigour of the people of Uttar Pradesh is reflected in the colorful vibrancy of their fairs and festivals. Whether it is the village, still steeped in tradition, or the town, tentatively modern, an awareness of one's roots is deeply ingrained in each and is outwardly manifested through festivities the year round. Fairs and festivals are celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervor to invoke divine blessings as well as for the sheer joy of living. A celebration of life at its best.
Lath mar Holi takes place well before the actual Holi celebration. It takes place at Barsana near Mathura in the state of Uttar Pradesh. People flock to the suburban town of Barsana near Mathura to see Lath Mar Holi, a special form of traditional festivity.
On the occasion of Janmashtami, a large number of pilgrims from all over the country come to visit this Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, Mathura. Mathura and Brindavan are in festive moods during Janmashtami. to see more click to Janamashtami .
Sankat Mochan Music Festival is celebrated at Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi. It celebrates the birth of Hanuman. On the occasion of Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, classical music performances are held by the Indian Maestros.
Ramnavami Mela, Ayodhya marks the birth anniversary of Lord Rama. It is usually celebrated in the month of Chaitra according to the Indian calender which generally corresponds to the March or April of the English calendar. Ramnavami Mela, Ayodhya is the testimonial of love, faith and devotion of the people in the state for their great hero Ramchandra, the central character of the Indian epic Ramayana. The Ramnavami Mela, Ayodhya is dedicated to Lord Rama. On the ninth day (navami)of the lunar month Ramnavami Mela is celebrated in all parts of the country. The festival centers around the birth of Rama or Ramchandra who is known for his values, justice and over all his love towards his brothers and his subjects. Ramrajya (the reign of Rama) was an era marked with great peace, prosperity and wealth. Ramnavami Mela, Ayodhya is not only restricted to this particular state but it is also celebrated all over the country The worship begins with ablutions in the early morning, chanting Vedic mantras which are dedicated to Vishnu. People in large numbers offer flowers, fruits and sweets to the deity. The devotees maintain a fast all through the day which is broken only at midnight with fruit. In many regions of India, on the day of Ramnavami Mela especially Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, public gatherings called sat-sangs are organized. The devotees gather in large numbers in the temples of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate the Ramnavami Mela which is the birth place of Rama. They celebrate the occasion with extreme joy and enthusiasm.
Deva mela, Barabanki is annually held at Deva, 10 km. from Barabanki at the revered shrine of the Haji Waris Ali Shah. Held in months of October and November, Deva mela at Barabanki show-cases the spirit of communal harmony in Uttar Pradesh and India. Deva mela, Barabanki features games, music, poetry conferences and great shopping opportunities. But it is fundamentally a religious fair, and attracts devotees from all over India, Pakistana and from parts of the Middle East as well. Deva mela, Barabanki is primarily a Muslim religious occasion. The Urs or commemoration of the sacred shrine of the Sufi saint Haji Waris Ali Shah is attended by devoted Muslims from every corner of India. The fact that it attracts devotees in great numbers from the neighboring countries, provides great opportunities for each visitor interaction with the neighboring brethren. The feeling of peace and harmony is predominant. Because of its pomp and color, Deva mela of Barabanki attracts many non-Muslims as well. As such, the fair ground becomes a site of communal harmony and national unity which represents the very spirit of India. A cattle fare is the highlight of Deva mela, Barabanki. There are games like volleyball, hockey and athletics held daily. They add much to the excitement of the people who gather at the fair grounds. musical conferences, poetic conferences and many other cultural events that add to the attraction of Barabanki's Deva mela. Many shops are set up to commemorate the occasion. These shops, which are beautifully illuminated at night, provide great vibrancy to the fair ground along with shopping opportunities to the visitors. Many sell authentic handicrafts made by the master craftspersons of Uttar Pradesh at Deva mela, Barabanki. The fair ends on a high note with a great exhibition of fireworks on the final night.
Bateshwar Fair, Agra - Bateshwar derives its name from the presiding deity of the place Bateshwar Mahadeo. There are 108 temples dedicated to various gods in Bateshwar at about 70 kms from Agra near Bah. The most important feature of the Bateshwar fair is the livestock fair that is organized.
Kailash fair, Agra in Uttar Pradesh is a colorful carnival. India is a land of fairs and festivals which are always celebrated with a huge enthusiasm. A visit to Kailash fair, Agra will give you the scope of witnessing one of the biggest and most popular festivals in India. The Kailash fair is held at Kailash which lies at a distance of hardly 12 kilometers from Agra. The Kailash fair, Agra is known to be celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. As the legend goes, Lord Shiva himself came to this sacred place in the disguise of a stone lingam. This has an immense value to the devotees who firmly believe in such legends. They think that the Lord is always there in the lingam and are listening to all of their prayers. You will be astonished to know that there are thousands of them who gather here with the belief that all their wishes will be fulfilled in the Kailash fair of Agra. In the Kailash fair, Agra in Uttar Pradesh one will find oneself to be in an air full of happiness. The place is marked by an ambiance of joy and celebrations. You will find people chanting the mantras, young boys and girls running here and there. The ladies wearing the best of their sarees and gorgeously adorned with ornaments can also be found. The whole thing together makes the Kailash fair, Agra a spectacular event. Not only the temples but all the streets are decorated often with colorful papers. Numerous temporary shops are set which sell toys, foods, sweets, ornaments and many more things. The Kailash fair in Agra is celebrated every year in the months of August and September. So next year make it a point to witness the great fair.
Magh Mela is the smaller version of the Kumbha Mela. It is held in the months of January and February every year. It is a religious event held at Sangam, the holy confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the Saraswati. Every twelfth year, the Magh Mela is converted to the Kumbha Mela, when millions of pilgrims congregate to celebrate the remarkable event. Uttar Pradesh is full with tourists during this time.
Ganga Mahotsava is a 5-day festive event held after Deewali on the banks of Ganges in Varanasi. The event promotes Indian music & dance. In the past editions, laureates like Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pundit Chhanulal Misra, Girija Devi, Bal Murli Krishnan, Bhimsen Joshi, Birju Maharaj, Amjad Ali Khan, Vilayat Khan, Zila Khan, Sujat Khan and Zakir Hussein have given their enthralling performances in this festival.
The Lucknow Festival is celebrated between 25th November and 5th December in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. This festival celebrates Lucknow's culture and traditions. Colorful processions, music and dance performances are highlights of the festival. Exciting events like races, kite flying, cock fighting and other customary village games are also held. Tourists can also get a taste of the Nawabi cuisine.
A ten-day event, the Taj Mahotsav at Agra is a cultural festival starting on 18th February. Arts, crafts and culture are on display here alongwith performances in Folk music , shayari (poetry) and classical dances as well as elephant and camel rides, games and a food festival to alongwith.
Bihar became the first state in India to have separate web page for every city and village in the state on its website www.brandbihar.com (Now www.brandbharat.com)
See the record in Limca Book of Records 2012 on Page No. 217