Banganga Fair
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).
