The United States is a relatively young state, the first settlers set foot on this land only in the 16th century, but before them these lands were inhabited and continue to inhabited to this day by peoples whose history goes back thousands of years. These include the world's most numerous Indian tribe - the Navajo.
In the southeastern United States, there is the Dineta territory, which is considered the historical land of the Navajo people, or, as they are also called, the Dinet people, it occupies part of Arizona, Newts and New Mexico. Dineta is a large semi-autonomous region with about 150,000 inhabitants from the largest Indian tribe in the United States. The reservation lies between four sacred mountains for the tribe.
Every year in Arizona in early September, a fair is held, which brings together representatives of the Navajo people from around the globe - this is the largest celebration of the entire native population of the United States. The Navajo Fair is a truly unique experience. The traditions of a typical rural American fair, held in all states of the country, are mixed here with the customs, rituals, and beliefs of the Navajo people.
As a rule, the holiday begins with a large exhibition of cattle, the breeding of which is a traditional Indian occupation. The holiday continues with bright noisy dances in national costumes and a big parade. At the fair, you can watch and even participate in various competitions - for example, a drumming competition or frying corn flour cakes.
In addition, all visitors to the fair are treated to free barbecues - more than a ton of meat cooked in clay pots covered with metal sheets and sprinkled with earth goes away in one day of the fair, which is attended by about eight thousand people.
Another highlight of the fair is the beauty contest. To participate in it, a girl aged seventeen to twenty-one must have not only beauty, but at least 1/10 of Indian blood. In addition to external data, the jury evaluates the folk dance and the degree of participation in the life of the community.
And, of course, there is a rodeo - the Navajo have always been known as brilliant horse riders and herders.
At the fair, guests can buy a huge number of handicrafts, souvenirs and traditional dishes.
