| Fairs
More than 2,250 fairs are held in Uttar Pradesh. The
largest number of fairs are held in Mathura, followed by Kanpur, Hamispur,
Jhansi, Agra and Fatehpur. The other important fairs are Parikrama fair
at Nimsar- Misrikh on Phalgun Sudi 11-15, Magh Mela in the month of Magh
at the Sangam in Allahabad, Ram Navami at ayodhya, Devi Patan fair in
Gonda district, Mahabir Mela at Lucknow on the first Tuesday of Jaistha,
Govinda Sahib ka Mela at Amari, in Azamgarh district, Jhanda Mela at Dehra
Dun and the Etawah Cattle Fair and Exhibition in Kartika or Agrahana.
The solar and lunar eclipses are great bathing days. At Allahabad and
Hardwar are held Kumbha Melas every 12 years.
Fifteen days after Diwali, on Kartika Purnima day, all over the state
on the river banks, fairs are held and people bathe for purification
. The biggest fairs are held in Bijnor (Khari Jhalu block), Moradabad
(Tigri), Budaun (Kakora), Bareilly (Chaubari), Muzaffarnagar (Shukra Tal),
Garhmukteshwar, Anupshahr, Unnao (Ganga Ghat), Kanpur, Faizabad (Ayodhya),
Varanasi and Ballia (Dadri), drawing crowds from one lakh to four lakhs.
The day is also sacred to the Sikhs, being the birthday of Guru Nanak,
founder of Sikhism. Another famous fair is the three day Ratha Yatra on
the 17th day of Aswin and is held at Assi. |
