The Bateshwar Fair or the Agra Cattle Fair is conducted in the small village town of Bateshwar once a roaring metropolis situated at a distance of 70 km from Agra on the banks of the Yamuna. The fair has grown bigger, and it is now considered as the biggest fair in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is often compared to the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan. The otherwise sleepy town comes alive during the Hindu month of ‘Karthik’ (November) when the festival is usually held on an annual basis.
Traditions
The festival derives its name from the residing deity of the place called Bateshwar Mahadeo. Besides the main deity, there are around 108 temples dedicated to several other Gods and Goddesses from the religion of Hinduism.
The most striking feature of the region are the line of striking white temples made of clay that line the entire bank of the river Yamuna.Devotees from far and wide gather here during this time to pay their respects to the Lord and take a holy dip in the Yamuna.
Along the side-lines of the religious proceedings, an enormous cattle and livestock fair is held, which sees traders engaged in brisk business. Thousands of livestock comprised of cows, buffaloes, goats, bullocks, camels and elephants are decked in their colourful best for prospective buyers to make their purchases.A wide variety of domestic pets and birds are also available here. A host of cultural and folk programs are also organized, which are the major crowd-pullers.
Tourist Essential
Tourists can benefit by making a short trip from Agra, where the World famous Taj Mahal is present and feast on the pristinely designed and constructed temples. You can seek peace of mind by taking a holy dip in the Yamuna and paying your respects to the Lord Bateshwar. A host of cultural programs also promises to keep you entertained, thereby creating an air of festival fun that encompasses the entire region.
