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Location: Radha
Krishna Ji Temple near a rivulet which is 11 kms away
from Bairath in the district of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Bairath is 85 kms away from Jaipur.
Significance :
It is believed that bathing with the holy waters of
Banganga on this day purifies one's soul.
Time of Celebration :
Vaishakh Purnima (the full moon day, according to the
Hindu calendar), that generally falls in April or
May.
The name Baneshwar is derived from the
revered Shiva Linga which is kept in the Mahadev
temple in Dungarpur. "Baneshwar" means the 'master of
the delta' in the local Vagdi language and this name
was given to Shiva Linga.The Baneshwar fair is held at
a small delta formed by the river Som and Mahi, from
Magh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Poornima during
Shivratri. (Jan-Feb).
 The
Baneshwar fair, in its present form is actually a
merger of two fairs: one which used to be held 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 revered saint considered to be an incarnation
of Lord Vishnu.
The Baneshwar fair is predominantly a tribal fair
with more than half of the congregation consisting of
Bhils. They revere Baneshwar Mahadev as well as Mavji.
The majority of the gathering is from the Districts of
Dungarpur, Udaipur and Banswara.
The temple of Baneshwar Mahadev remains open from
5.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. during the fair. In the
morning, saffron is applied to the Shiva Linga after
it is bathed and an aarti of burning incense is waved
before it. In the evening, bhabhut (ash) is applied to
the Linga and an aarti with a fine-wick lamp is waved.
Devotees offer wheat flour, pulses, rice, jaggery,
ghee, salt, chillies, coconut and cash.
The Bhils attending Baneshwar Fair sing traditional
folk songs in high pitched voices sitting around a
bonfire every night. Groups of villagers are also
invited to participate in the programme. The fair
resounds with the gaiety of songs, folk dances, magic
shows, animal shows and acrobatic feats. Adding to the
excitement are the joy rides on merry-go-rounds and
swings.
The fair site is at a distance of 6.5 kms from
Sabla, a village on the Udaipur-Banswara-Dungarpur bus
route which is at a distance of 123 kms from Udaipur
53 kms from Banswara 45 kms from Dungarpur and 22 kms
from Aspur, the Tehsil headquarter. On normal days,
one has to reach Sabla from Baneshwar on foot or on
private carts. However, buses go right up to the bank
of the river Som during the fair.
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