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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 b y 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). |
