Nagaur Cattle Festival
Year | Dates |
---|---|
2023 | Jan 27 – 30, 2023 |
2024 | To be announced |
Nagaur Cattle Festival is a unique festival dedicated to cattle trading in a small town called Nagaur located between Bikaner and Jodhpur in Rajasthan. An annual festival but celebrated on a grand scale, this festival is attended by all owners from all neighbouring areas of the state, trading their cows, buffaloes, goats and camels. It is celebrated with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm by the local people. In today’s time, Nagaur Cattle Festival is considered as one of the best festival tours in India because it has seen visitors from various parts of India, who are not limited to traders but also include tourists who want to explore something different in their travel itinerary. There is a unique charm to this festival which is worth witnessing once in your life time. Every year, the festival takes place in the month of January or February, and is celebrated for a span of 4 days. Nagaur Cattle Festival 2023 dates are from 27th January to 30th January 2023. Book your tickets for Nagaur Cattle Festival 2023 Tour.
History Of Nagaur Cattle Festival
Nagaur is located close to ancient trading routes of Rajasthan and nearby states. Because of its closeness to the Thar Desert, the land here is largely infertile. So, people in this region and nearby areas are solely dependent on livestock for their livelihood. Buying and selling of cows is very common in Nagaur since a long period of time. Once during the time of the fair, almost 56 years back, the Sufi Saint Ramdeoji was invited by the King Umed Singh. People were highly amazed seeing the powers of the saint that they requested him to stay back in Nagaur. Ever since then, the cattle fair began to be celebrated on a grand scale and it became an annual event in Nagaur which people look forward to celebrate. Hence, the festival is also referred as Ramdeoji Cattle Fair.
Things to do in Nagaur Cattle Festival
Today, the Nagaur Cattle Festival is not just a trading fair but a cultural event organized extravagantly by the locals, the traders and the state government. Some major highlights of Ramdeoji Cattle Fair are as follows:
• Trading negotiations: The major objective of the festival is of course the trading between the buyers and sellers. The fair begins with the display of cattle and other livestock animals in their best forms. A visual treat where you get to see more than 70,000 beautifully decorated camels, buffaloes, cows, goats, etc. ready to be bought or sold. Owners with their cattle are lined up in sheds, allotted for them, and the buyers walk from one shed to another to select the best out of the lot at negotiable prices.
• Cultural extravaganza and competitions: As the sun sets, the cultural programs with folk music and dance start by local folk artists. Here, tourists and locals have a great time enjoying the cultural ethnicity of the region. Not only music and dance, people also enjoy bullock races, cockfights, tug-of-war and much more. Tourists can also take part in various competitions loke as animal decoration contests, turban tying contests, gymnastic hunts. The night is beautifully illuminated with fireworks in the sky, making it an event to remember.
• Handicrafts Mela: At the Nagaur Cattle Festival ground, there are various kiosks displaying handicrafts, leather accessories, wooden items, iron-crafts, and other things which can be purchased as gift items and as souvenirs.
• Food stalls: Visitors can try the local Rajasthani cuisines in the various food stalls lined up on the fair ground.
• Mirchi Bazaar: One of the important attractions of the cattle fair is the mirchi bazaar, which is considered as the largest chili market in all of Asia. Though the Chillie market is open the entire year, yet, it sees the maximum number of customers during the Nagaur Cattle Festival.
Places that you can explore
There are certain tourist spots which are worth visiting when you come to attend the Nagaur Cattle Festival.
Nagaur Fort is an ancient magnificent fort believed to have been built in the 4th century. With tall bastions all around, there are numerous palaces inside the fort and each palace has its unique intricate carving which are marvels to witness. Then there is the highly revered Tarkeen Dargah, located within the premises of Nagaur Fort. Amar Singh’s Cenotaph built in the honour of famous Rajput folk Idol, Amar Singh Ji is another tourist spot worth visiting. The major attraction of this Cenotaph is the beautifully-carved yellow-coloured sandstone exterior which shines bright when sun rays fall on it. The stunning Jain Glass Temple with its mesmerising glass statue inside the temple premise is not to be missed at all. There are statues of Jain tirthankaras and ancient Jain Holy scriptures in this temple. Akbari Mahal, a palace with a blend of Rajput and Mughal style in another attraction nearby. The ornamented Deepak Mahal within the Nagaur Fort premises looks just amazing.
When visiting Nagaur during the Nagaur Cattle Festival, you should include all these nearby tourist spots in your travel itinerary. Infact, book your tickets well in advance for Nagaur Cattle Festival 2023 with the best inbound tour operator in India.
Cultural programs
There are certain tourist spots which are worth visiting when you come to attend the Nagaur Cattle Festival.
Nagaur Fort is an ancient magnificent fort believed to have been built in the 4th century. With tall bastions all around, there are numerous palaces inside the fort and each palace has its unique intricate carving which are marvels to witness. Then there is the highly revered Tarkeen Dargah, located within the premises of Nagaur Fort. Amar Singh’s Cenotaph built in the honour of famous Rajput folk Idol, Amar Singh Ji is another tourist spot worth visiting. The major attraction of this Cenotaph is the beautifully-carved yellow-coloured sandstone exterior which shines bright when sun rays fall on it. The stunning Jain Glass Temple with its mesmerising glass statue inside the temple premise is not to be missed at all. There are statues of Jain tirthankaras and ancient Jain Holy scriptures in this temple. Akbari Mahal, a palace with a blend of Rajput and Mughal style in another attraction nearby. The ornamented Deepak Mahal within the Nagaur Fort premises looks just amazing.
When visiting Nagaur during the Nagaur Cattle Festival, you should include all these nearby tourist spots in your travel itinerary. Infact, book your tickets well in advance for Nagaur Cattle Festival 2023 with the best inbound tour operator in India.
How to reach?
The nearest airport to Nagaur is Jodhpur Airport and the railway station is Jodhpur railway station. The airport and station are both fairly well-connected with other Indian cities. You can plan your trip and create your own route via train or air to reach Nagaur.
Attend this vibrant annual Nagaur Cattle Festival or Ramdeoji Cattle Fair to witness the huge cattle trading ground and festive traditions of the state of royal Rajasthan. Make comfortable and hassle-free travel plans with the best tour operators in India.
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