Wednesday, 21 March 2012

GUJARAT FAMOUS FAIR


Shamalaji  Mela
Held In :  Shamlaji Temple, Gujarat.
In The Month of : November.
Duration :  2 Weeks.
Also Called As :  Kartik Purnima Fair.
The Shamlaji Mela, also called the Kartik Purnima fair is held in the month of November every year and lasts for about two weeks. Shamlaji Mela is attended by almost two hundred thousand people from neighboring districts and even from Rajasthan .

The Venue

The Shamlaji Temple is a renowned Vaishnav Shrine and the deity housed here is known by various names included 'Gadadhar' (bearer of the mace) and 'Shaksi Gopal'. The temple is of great archaeological implication as it was built in the 11th century. Apart from a darshan of the deity in the temple, the pilgrims consider a bath in the river Meshwo essential.
The People In Attendance
Devotees belonging to a range of castes and communities including the 'Garasias' and 'Bhils' throng this festival. These pilgrims come in groups, singing devotional songs and carry religious banners to have an audience of the deity at the Shamlaji Temple.

The fair is also well-liked with the tribal people of the area, particularly the Bhils, who revere Shamlaji, the deity they refer to as 'Kalio Bavji', the dark divinity.

GUJARAT FAMOUS FAIR


Dangs  Darbar

Location :  Ahwa, Gujarat.
Also Called As :  Jamabandi Darbar.
Significance :  Tribal Fair.
The Unique Tribal Fair
Dangs Darbar is the name of the yearly fair held every year in Ahwa, the most important town in the Dangs a few days before Holi. The Dangs is one of the mainly delightful districts of Gujarat and is situated high in the Saputara hills, the original home of the 'adivasis', the tribal population of Gujarat.

The name 'Darbar' dates back to the time of the British, when a darbar of Rajas and Naiks of neighbouring area used to assemble there. Today, it is called Jamabandi Darbar and the District Collector officiates at it.

Thousands of tribal people flock to Ahwa from all over the district, dressed in bright colours sounding the Shehnai and beating their drums. Folk dances, dramas and songs make livelier the air during the festival.

GUJARAT FAMOUS FAIR

Vautha Mela


Celebrated In  :  Vautha, Gujarat. 
Held At The Confluence of :  Sabarmati , Vatrak & other 5 rivers gathered at that place. 
Significance  : Major Animal Trading Fair. 
Other Attraction : Siddhnath Temple. 


This magnificent fair is held every year at Vautha, where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak meet. Like most fair sites in India, this also has both mythological and current religious associations. 

The Vautha Mela site is 3 square miles in area. Legends hold that Kartik Swami or Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva, visited the site. This is why the fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik, corresponding to November. The site, also known as Saptasangam, is at the confluence of seven rivers. The most important Shiva temple here is the temple of Siddhanath. 
What is most significant about this fair is that it is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat and is on par with the famous camel fair at Pushkar, Rajasthan. However the only animals traded here are donkeys. About 4,000 donkeys are brought every year for sale, usually by Vanjara (gypsy) traders. 

The pilgrims who visit Vautha during the fair are from several communities and include farmers, labourers and people belonging to several castes. 


Trade Cattle
What is most significant about this fair is that it is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat and is on par with the famous camel fair at Pushkar , Rajasthan . Donkey, cattle and herds of camel are brought to the site to be traded, at the confluence of seven tributaries of the river Sabarmati. However, most of the times, the only animals traded here are donkeys. About 4,000 donkeys are brought every year for sale, usually by 'Banjara' (gypsy) traders. 

The donkeys are painted in an array of colours, and decorated to suit the occasion. Camels are also well decked up and sold on the sand dunes by the river shores.