Religious festivals

Holi :

Holi is celebrated all over north India with full joy, but Holi in UP is some what special. The state where Lord Krishna was born, holi of that state has to be remarkable.

Barsana Holi :

The famous "Latthmaar Holi" of Braj is celebrated at Barsana, which is 48 km. from Mathura. People say that Krishna from Nandgaon use to come to Barsana to play Holi with Radha alongwith his Gopi friends. The Gopis after fun chase away the Gopas of Nandgaon by beating them with "lathis". So it came to be known as the 'Latthmar Holi' of Barsana.

To this day, the village women have the freedom to literally take up cudgels against their menfolk, a right they exercise with all enthusiasm and shower colored water as an expression of joy.

The main celebrations at Barsana, take place at the Ladliji temple, dedicated to Sri Radha Rani, (the beloved of Sri Krishna).

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Janmasthami :

Janmashthami, which marks the birth of lord Krishna, is celebrated with full joy in the state. Lord Krishna was born in this state only so the celebrations are there on a lrge scale in the Braj.

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All other festivals like diwali, dusshera, id, teej etc are celebrated with full joy.

Fairs

Kampil Fair, Kampil :

Kampil was earlier known as kampiliya, is a village in tehsil Kasganj of Etah district and is situated on the banks of River Ganga.

Kampil was the birth place of the 13th tirthaiikar Brahlan Vimal Nath and was graced by the visit of Lord Mahavir. The neighboring ruins and mounds contain the relics and sculptures of Jain period.

Every year a Jain Mela is held for five days in the month of March thronged by Jain devouts.

Bateshwar Fair, Agra :

Bateshwar is an important spiritual and cultural centre, and is situated at a distance of 70 km from Agra.

The place is named after the presiding deity of the region, Bateshwar Mahadeo and has 108 temples dedicated to the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. During the months of Oct. & Nov. a large fair is organized from Shashthi of Kartik month to Panchami of Agrahayan month. Devotees gather here in large numbers to worship Lord Shiva and take holy dips in river Yamuna.

A livestock fair is also organized and owners and buyers conduct serious business combined with the gaiety of a market place.

Deva Mela, Barabanki :

The annual urs of Haji Waris Ali Shah is celebrated during Oct.-Nov. months at Deva 10 km. from Barabanki. This fair attracts pilgrims from as far as Pakistan and the Middle East countries. The shrine of the Sufi Saint is much revered by Muslim pilgrims all over the world.

Kailash Fair, Agra :

Kailash Fair takes place at Kailash which is 12km from Agra, during the months of Aug.-Sept. It is a major fair celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva who is believed to have appeared here in the form of a stone lingam.

Rambarat, Agra :

The marriage procession of Sri Ram, is held every year during Ramlila celebrations at Agra.

Every year a new locale of the town is chosen as Janakpuri, which is elaborately decorated to perform the royal wedding. The Rambarat (marriage procession) starts from Lala Channomaiji Id Baradari for Janakpuri passing through different parts of the town. The barat is a large procession of Jhankis followed by the swaroops of Ram-Lakshman mounted on elephants.

Ramnavmi Mela, Ayodhya :

Ayodhya, is the birth place of Lord Rama. This holy city is the sacred pilgrim centre of Hindus in the Ramnavmi Festival in the month of April. Thousands of worshippers gather to venerate the Lord at Kanak Bhawan.

Devi Patan Mela, Tulsipur :

Devi Patan Mela is held in Tulsipur (Balrampur, Gonda) during Chaitra Navratri, this fair is dedicated to Maa Patan Devi. Pilgrims come in large numbers including several from Nepal. The festivities include cultural programmes and religious ceremonies.

Kumbh Mela :

The month long Kumbh Mela of Allahabad is one of the largest fairs of the world and is attended by millions of pilgrims from all over India as well as the devout from the world over. Maha Kumbh, takes place in the months of January-February, on the banks of the holy confluence(Sangam) of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

The Kumbh Mela is generally held every three years in rotation at Allahabad, Hardwar, Ujjain and Nasik. The period of Kumbh Mela is Magh (Jan-Feb) month of Hindu calendar.

Ardh Kumbh :

Held in the 6th year after Kumbh Mela, i.e. it falls between two Kumbh Melas. It has got the same religious value and attracts millions of people. It has the same main bathing days as in Kumbh Mela.

Magh Mela (The Annual Mini Kumbh) :

Except the years of Kumbh Mela and Ardh Kumbh Mela, Magh Mela is held every year on the banks of Sangam. Magh Mela is held in the month of Magh (Jan-Feb); hence Magh Mela. During this period about two or three million of devotees throng here.

During the Magh Mela peiod, a tent city comes up for more than a month, where thousands of devotees live. Different Hindu religious organisations erect their camps during this period. Different stories and scenes from Hindu religious texts are staged by the FOLK Theatre groups in different places in the mela area.