The Annual Pilani Mela, officially called the Marwar Mega Trade Fair, is a carnival held in Pilani twice a year, in January and in October. This article is based on this year’s mela, which was open from 17th January to 17th February, 2026. The fair was organised by ‘the Marwar Handicraft and Udyog Mela’. It has been continuing for the past twelve to fifteen years. While the mela is in town, it is the favourite hangout spot for both the BITSians and the locals alike. 

Location

The mela was very close to BITS Pilani. It was located right past the first roundabout one encounters upon exiting the campus through the main entrance and heading straight. It was within walking distance of the campus. 

Who is it meant for?

Everyone! A few rides in the mela had obvious restrictions for children and were meant only for adults, and vice versa. But the rest of it was enjoyable for people from all walks of life.

Attractions

The main attractions were the rides and the shopping stalls. The best time to visit the mela was after nightfall, when one could witness it in its most beautiful and colourful form. At this time, the entire fair would be throbbing with activity. There were separate rides suitable for children and adults, and a wide range of shopping stalls to buy a variety of commodities.

The rides

The main rides were the Columbus(swinging ship), the tilted ferris wheel, the “Cup n’ Saucer”, and the classic slow-moving giant wheel. There were numerous children’s rides as well — like the bouncy castle, mini carousels and a small dragon coaster(coaster in the shape of a dragon). The main rides cost 50 rupees per person. Although the safety of these rides might have seemed questionable to newbies, they faced no shortage of passengers.

The shopping stalls

The mela did not disappoint the average shopaholic. There was a variety of wares on sale — ranging from sweet treats, phone covers, to cosmetics, cutlery, carpets, bags, and plenty of clothing. There were numerous street food stalls too— such as panipuri, bhelpuri, and chaat. An astute juice vendor had set up his stall nearby, recognising the opportunities. The prices of the goods were identical to those outside the mela, but the sheer variety of supplies all concentrated at one place was stunning. A mere walk around the mela in itself offered an amazing experience.

A Few Words from the Locals

A street food vendor at the mela told us that the fair was a great opportunity for vendors like him to boost their sales. He added that the fair witnessed a footfall of about 250-300 people on weekdays and up to 500 people on weekends. When asked about rides and ride safety, the vendor said the rides are safe, and that he could not recall any accidents ever occurring

A local policeman expressed that the fair was a great opportunity for people from different sections of society to gather at one place and spend some recreational time. He complained about the loud music and the disturbance caused by it, but gave advice to focus on the good side of it. He also commented that they found it hard to keep people from littering the place due to the lack of sufficient dustbins. This fair, according to him, had everything, and was perfect to spend quality time with family and friends.

Overall, the mela seemed to be an enthralling experience for all. It offered an escapade for those who needed a short break from campus, a fun meeting spot for friend groups, and an adrenaline boost for the intrepid. Make sure to pay it at least one visit when it opens next!