Nagaur Cattle Fair Rajasthan

Rajasthan's rich history, majestic forts, palaces and captivating lakes do make the state popular for tourism; however, it is the fair and festivals which add icing on the cake and make it a preferred tourist destination. A small town of Nagaur situated between Jodhpur and Bikaner hosts the second-largest cattle fair in India. For the first time visitors, it is astonishing to witness camels, horses, cows, goats and sheep traded in such high volumes. Situated in the Thar Desert, the land of Nagaur is infertile for agriculture; therefore, the villagers make the livelihood by breeding camels and selling it to the neighbouring regions like Haryana and Punjab. The camels are meticulously taken care by their owners, ensuring that they sell at a high price. The bullocks too are healthy and fit, which attract a large number of buyers. While there is earnest bargaining which happens between the owners and buyers, the fair also has many other cultural activities. It is a delight to watch the folk music and dance performed by the locals dressed in their traditional attire. The very popular activities like tug of war, cockfights, camel and bullock races along with jugglery show, puppet show, etc; also keep the visitors engaged. In all, the four-day Naguar fair is a mix of entertainment, fun and frolic and should be in your bucket list during Rajasthan visit.

Dates of the festival: 30 January to 2 Feb 2020

Naguar fair is held every year in the month of January or February for four days.

Special highlights of the festival:

• Since a lot of visitors attend this festival, the state tourism department puts up a tourist village to provide accommodation.
• Camps, tents and the set up of bonfire adds up to the excitement of staying in a desert.
• The main attraction of the fair is the Mirchi Bazaar (Red chilly market), which is an interesting place for shopaholics to buy wooden items, leather articles, handicrafts, traditional jewellery.
• Animals are decorated in the best possible way, and a beauty contest is conducted to select the best animal.
• Visitors can try the local cuisine, especially sweets, and tea made up of camel milk.
• The night gets beautifully lit up with fireworks in the sky, making it an event to remember.