Baneshwar fair is an annual tribal fair held in Dungarpur district in Rajasthan state of India. The fair is held in the month of January or February (2 weeks following the new moon night in the month of Magh in the Vikram Samvat calendar) at Baneshwar, near the confluence of the Som and Mahi rivers. This fair is a major fair in tribal culture and has been described as "the Kumbh mela for the tribals".
History and legend of Baneshwar Fair
The Baneshwar fair of Rajasthan, in its present form is actually a combination of two fairs: one which used to be conducted in honour of Baneshwar Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and another fair which started after the construction of the Vishnu temple by Jankunwari, daughter-in-law of Mavji, a highly admired saint considered to be an living form of Lord Vishnu.
Two followers of Mavji named Aje and Vaje construct the Lakshmi- Narain Temple near the convergence of rivers Som and Mahi. On Magh Shukla Ekadashi the 'pran-pratishtha' ceremony of the idols was performed and since then, the fair is held on this day. The large audience that gathers here at the time of the fair pays respect to all the deities with equal respect.
The Baneshwar fair of Rajasthan is mainly a tribal fair with more than half of the people attending worship consisting of Bhils. They admire Baneshwar Mahadev as well as Mavji. The majority of the assembly is from the Districts of Dungarpur, Udaipur and Banswara of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is all about royalty, culture, color, camel and celebration. Rajasthan is also famous for mesmerising lakes, dessert, historical places & forts. A Rajasthan festival includes interesting rituals,ethnicity, tradition festivals and celebrations. Numerous fairs and festivals are celebrated in Rajasthan. All the fairs and festivals feature display of the state’s legacy, colorful artifacts, lip- smacking delicacies, traditional Rajasthani attires, folk songs, folk dance and various interesting competitions. fairs and festivals in Rajasthan offer a chance to travellers to have a glimpse into the art, culture, customs and history of the state. Some of the popular Rajasthan fairs and festivals are Camel Festival, Desert Festival, Pushkar Fair and Urs Fair. Other festivals include Gangaur Festival, Diwali Festival, Kite Festival, Teej, Marwar Festival, Summer Festival. Travel to Rajasthan and participate in the jubilant activities.