Nagaur Cattle Fair

One of India's largest cattle fairs, trading cattle, camels and horses, alongside folk performances, tug-of-war, camel races and rural sports.

The fair was originally established to honor the memory of the legendary folk deity Baba Ramdeoji and to provide a centralized trading ground for desert pastoralists and farmers before the arrival of the harsh summer months.

Thousands of herders gather on the expansive fairgrounds with their livestock. The event features energetic camel races, tug-of-war competitions, traditional mustache contests, folk music performances, and rustic open-air night markets.

Traders perform simple morning rituals to bless their animals for good health and prosperity. Commercial deals are finalized using traditional handshakes and verbal agreements witnessed by community elders.

Desert communities believe that treating livestock with respect and giving fair business deals ensures long-term prosperity, protection from drought, and healthy future lineages for their herds.

Patronised in the past by local Rajput rulers, the fair was later formalised and expanded by the state's animal husbandry department to support rural communities and preserve the desert livestock breeds.

The Nagaur Cattle Fair is rural Rajasthan with nothing tidied up for visitors. The desert air is filled with the sound of folk songs played on the Ravanahatha string instrument, mixed with the calls of herders and traders negotiating under the sun. You will see lines of camels decorated with colorful embroidery and traders with turbans exchanging stories around small campfires, creating an authentic experience of desert life.