BANGANGA FAIR

Location : 11 Kms from Bairath, Jaipur. Temple : Radha Krishan Ji Temple. Time of the festivity : April-May

The Banganga Fair is held annually near a rivulet 11 kms. from the historical township of Bairath in Jaipur district, on the full moon day of Vaishakh (April- May). The stream is believed to have been created by Arjun, one of the Pandavas. This area is identified with the settlement of Virat Puri of the epic days. At the site is the Radha-Krishnaji Temple which was built by Shri Nandram Bakshi of Jaipur more than 200 years ago.

For the Hindus, Purnima (full moon day) in the month of Vaishakh holds a lot of significance

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.

Trading

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.

Worship & Rituals

Devotees gather at the Shri Radha Krishnaji's temple and sing bhajans (devotional songs) to glorify the deities. 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 Mahadev temple and the Math of Goswamiji.