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Fairs & Festivals —»
Banganga Fair
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Banganga Fair
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The
Banganga Fair is held annually on the full moon day of Vaishakh (April-May)
near a rivulet 11 kms from the historical township of Bairath in Jaipur district.
The stream is believed to have been created by Arjun, one of the Pandavas.
Visiting the Banganga Fair, taking a bath and paying homage to the holy sites
in the vicinity at this time is therefore considered very auspicious by the
pilgrims who come from Alwar, Behror, Jaipur, Bharatpur and many other places.
Apart from those who come to the fair for pilgrimage, traders of different communities
arrive at the fair to sell their wares. The articles sold range from simple
rural ornaments to toys and household items. The buying and selling adds to
the atmosphere and to the hustle and bustle of the fair. Giant wheels and merry-go-rounds
thrill the children as well as the grown-ups.
Devotees gather at the Shri Radha Krishnaji's temple in the morning, they take
a bath at the ghats (a flight of steps leading to the water) of the Banganga
river with the belief that it has powers to purify the soul. The people then
proceed to the nearby shrines of Hanuman and Ganga Bihari and also visit the
Shiva temple and the Math of Goswamiji.
Bairath is 85 kms from Jaipur on a diversion from National Highway No. 8 near
Shahpura which connects Alwar. There is a regular bus service between Jaipur
and Maid (from where Banganga is only a couple of kilometres away).
