Bhavnath Mahadev Mela

Bhavnath Mahadev Mela is celebrated near the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, situated at the foothills of Mount Girnar, in the Junagarh city of Gujarat. The fair takes place on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. It is organized in the month of February and lasts for five days. According to Hindu mythology, Girnar is believed to be the abode of the nine Nathas. They are the immortal Lords and Protectors as well as nine of eighty-four Siddhas, the spiritually elevated souls. All of them are said to be residing in the temple in their invisible spiritual bodies

On the festival of Mahashivratri, the mahapuja (grand worship) of Lord Shiva takes place in the temple. The worship begins at midnight, on the 14th day of the dark half of the Hindu month of Magh. As soon as the prayer ceremony starts, the Naga Babas, living nearby, march towards the Bhavnath Mahadev Mela. They are naked sages who can be seen seated on elephants, holding flags in their hands and blowing shells. The place is washed over by the tides of spirituality and devotion.

The fanatic sages show their gratitude towards the Lord by shouting aloud His name and seek His blessings in return. According to the belief of local people, Lord Shiva himself visits the shrine on this holy occasion. The pilgrims are served free meals by the organizers. Special stalls selling idols, rosaries or holy beads, utensils of brass and copper, sweets and fruits flank the venue of the fair. These stalls are brought here especially for the Bhavnath Mahadev Mela, by the vendors of Ayodhya and Mathura.

Shamlaji Mela

Shamlaji Melo takes place in a small town, Shamlaji, in Gujarat. The town is situated on the Delhi-Ahmedabad highway of India. Shamlaji Melo is also known as the Kartik Poornima fair, as it is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Kartik. The fair is usually celebrated in November and lasts for about a week. It is a significant fair for the tribes, who come from various parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan to participate in this grand extravaganza. Shamlaji Melo is an example of the harmony that prevails in the region.

Despite their personal differences, tribal people belonging to different regions come together and celebrate the fair with great zeal. There is an estimated gathering of about two hundred thousand people, which throng the place during the fair. It is organized near the famous Shamlaji temple of the region, a famous Vaishnav shrine dedicated to the deity called Gadadhar (mace bearer) or Shaksi Gopal. The temple architecture dates back to the 11th century and is of great archeological importance.

The devotees attending the Shamlaji Melo belong to varied castes and communities, including the Garasias and Bhils. The Bhils address the deity as 'Kalio Bavji' i.e. Dark Divinity. The pilgrims visit river Meshwo before entering the temple, to seek the blessings of the Lord. The holy dip in the waters of this river is considered very sacred. The devotees sing devotional songs in the praise of the Lord. They shout the name of the deity and express their gratitude. One can also see colorful religious banners in the hands of the people.

Shamlaji Melo is an excellent example of the secular nature of our country. People of all religion, caste and region participate in this holy fair. The cultural heritage and spirit of Gujarat can be witnessed, at its best, here. You can also buy some local handicrafts of the region as a memoir of the fair. Shamlaji Melo provides you an opportunity to witness the religious beliefs and culture of the local people closely. One can easily reach the venue of the fair as it is well connected to all the major cities of Gujarat, by road.

Chitra-Vichitra Mela

Chitra-Vichitra Mela is a purely tribal fair that takes place in the Gumbhakhari village, which falls under the Sabarkantha district. The village is located almost on the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The venue of the fair is near a temple overlooking the rivers Sabarmati, Aakar and Vakar. Chitra-Vichitra Mela is a huge hit amongst all the tribes of the state. A large number of Bhils from the surrounding areas reach the venue, for the celebration of the spring event, just a fortnight after Holi.

There is an exciting story behind the Chitra Vichitra Mela of India. The historical relevance of the fair dates back to the Mahabharat era. It is said that there were two sons of Shantanu named Chitraveer and Vichitraveer. Both of them wished to repent for the sins they had committed. A meditating saint advised them to discover a place, where the meeting point of three rivers as well as a Shiva shrine was located. Abiding by the saint's advice, they began their search and came to this ancient place, which is now known as Chitra Vichitra.

In order to practice penance, they immolated themselves here. Since then the Chitra- Vichitra fair is organized here in the memory of the two princes. The tribal population celebrates the fair every year, on the confluence of the rivers Sabarmati, Aakar and Vakar. It commences on the eve of no moon day just after Holi. On this night, the tribal people gather on the banks of the river and mourn for their departed dear ones. They also sing sorrowful songs, offer sacrifices and finally bathe in the river.

But in the morning, the mood is completely transformed. The people are completely taken over by the festive mood. The fair takes the form of a colorful galore owing to the vibrant traditional clothes of the Bhils and Garasias. The Garasia women are usually dressed in bright blue, green and red saris or Ghaghras (long skirts). They team it up with heavy silver jewelry like ear rings, necklaces and tingling anklets. To make themselves look further attractive they put kajal in their eyes and red color on their lips and cheeks.

On the other hand, men wear a blue shirt, dhoti and a red or saffron turban on head. In contrast to this, the Bhils, though well dressed, are less ornately jeweled. On an average, around 60,000 to 70,000 tribals participate in this fair. Men beat drums which are accompanied by folk songs sung by the women. It is followed by dancing in merriment, till everyone is exhausted. After this, the stalls selling food, refreshment, drinks and sweets are surrounded by the mob of people. One can buy various household items and silver jewelry from here.

Children enjoy themselves in the giant wheel and the merry-go-round. The fair is also popular as a betrothal ground for the young tribal boys and girls. Young men and women attend this fair to find a suitable match for themselves. They even elope with each other to the forest adjacent to the river. After some days, they return to their community to get married. It is a common practice amongst the Bhils and the Garsias.

Tarnetar Mela

Tarnetar Mela is one of the most popular fairs of Gujarat. It is organized in a village called Tarnetar, situated at a distance of around 75 kilometers from Rajkot. It is an annual three day fair and is celebrated during the months of August-September and is also called the Trinetreshwar Mahadev Fair. Tarnetar Mela is an important fair for the tribal people of India and is therefore thronged by all the nearby tribes of the region. The major tribes which participate in this fair are Koli, Bharwad, Rabari, Khant, Kanbi, Kathi, and Charan.

There is an exciting story behind the commencement of the fair, which refers to the Mahabharta Era. It is said that the Swayamvar of Princess Draupadi was conducted here. According to the folklore, the Pandava Hero, Arjun, won Draupadi's hand by showing his skill at archery. This has made the Tarnetar Mela a 'marriage mart' or 'Swayamvar' for the tribal youth. The young tribal men come to this place to look for suitable brides for themselves. The vibrant fair is the main attraction for the tribal youth.

Men can be seen in traditional colorful attire of dhotis, waistcoats and eye-catching turbans. These men come here to be chosen by the young tribal lasses dressed in customary finery. All the bachelors sit under their respective colorfully embroidered umbrellas. These umbrellas are especially prepared for the occasion by the men themselves. The spirit of festivity is at its peak during the Tarnetar Mela. All the tribal people indulge in various merry making activities, like dancing, music, competitive sports etc.

The colorful site of the fair is just awesome. It is flanked by over 300 stalls, selling food, refreshments, exhibiting embroidery and cattle shows. One can get to see the traditional dance and music of the varied ethnic groups participating in the fair. Tarnetar Mela is held around the Trinetreshwar Temple, dedicated to the Lord Shiva. This temple is very ancient and belongs to the first century. There is a pond here, the water of which is considered as sacred as the water of river Ganges. The reservoir is often termed as Papanashu (the destroyer of sins).

Gujarat Fairs

Gujarat is famous for its spirit of festivity. Fairs constitute the cultural heritage of Gujarat. Most of them are celebrated have strong historical or mythological background behind their existence. A number of fairs are celebrated exclusively by the tribal population. Therefore, through these fairs, one can get to know the customs and traditions of the tribal people of Gujarat. Infact, these fairs are a reflection of the states cultural diversity. The experience of witnessing these traditional extravaganzas so closely is definitely unique.

Tarnetar Mela
Tarnetar Mela is one of the most popular fairs of Gujarat. It is organized in a village called Tarnetar, situated at a distance of around 75 kilometers from Rajkot. It is an annual three day fair and is celebrated during the months of August-September and is also called the Trinetreshwar Mahadev Fair.

Chitra-Vichitra Mela
Chitra-Vichitra Mela is a purely tribal fair that takes place in the Gumbhakhari village, which falls under the Sabarkantha district. The village is located almost on the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The venue of the fair is near a temple overlooking the rivers Sabarmati, Aakar and Vakar.

Shamlaji Melo
Shamlaji Melo takes place in a small town, Shamlaji, in Gujarat. The town is situated on the Delhi-Ahmedabad highway of India. Shamlaji Melo is also known as the Kartik Poornima fair, as it is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Kartik.

Bhavnath Mahadev Mela
Bhavnath Mahadev Mela is celebrated near the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, situated at the foothills of Mount Girnar, in the Junagarh city of Gujarat. The fair takes place on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. It is organized in the month of February and lasts for five days.

Gujarat Fairs and Festivals

Gujarat is one of the most vibrant states of India. It is located on the west coast and is known for its rich culture and heritage. The state has been amazingly blessed with wide diversity in every sphere. As a result, it has a wealth of tourist spots.
Gujarat could well be termed the 'Land of Festivals and Fairs' with almost 3,500 of them being celebrated in different parts of the state every year. Like elsewhere in India, the festivals and fairs of Gujarat revolve around an occasion - be it the turn of a season, the time for harvesting a golden field, or a religious event from India's extensive and rich mythological traditions.
What's more, these fairs and festivals, governed by the solar and lunar calendars of old world astrology, offer the visitor an excellent opportunity to experience the diverse cultural and religious identity of the people of Gujarat.
Gujarat has always been known for its splendid and evocative festivals. An estimated two thousand festivals are celebrated every year in Gujarat. More than two hundred of these are unforgettable occasions that attract tens of thousands of people. Though rooted in religion and mythology, these celebrations centreing around gods and goddesses are truly secular socials in which people of all faiths participate.