Kota Tall effigies of the demons Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnad are burnt on Dussehra day to symbolize the victory of good over evil. Dussehra in Kota is the beginning of a festive period when people gather here from their village to offer prayers to Lord Ram and celebrate his victory over Ravana, the ten headed demon king. Men, women and children in colourful dresses participate in the festival to the stains of traditional music, Rural markets and shopping arcades emerge from nowhere, resulting in brisk trading. The whole festival takes on the form of a big carnival. A big cattle fair, next only to the Pushkar Fair, is held here on this occasion, blending religion with commerce.
Livestock brought here includes cows, bullocks, buffaloes and camels.
The fair provides an opportunity to acquaint with the people of Hadoti and their culture rituals and traditions. Besides the people of this region a considerable number of people converge here from nearby areas of Madhya Pradesh. Gangaur Festival, Jaipur Ishar and Gangaur are the divine male and female who embody marital love. Young girls pray for grooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for their husbands. Primarily a festival for women, the celebrations include flower gathering and drawing water from selected wells.