Festivals and Fairs of Gujarat
In India, Gujarat is the state that celebrates many splendid and evocative festivals and fairs. Gujarat celebrates about 3,500 of fairs and festivals in different parts of the state every year. So the state of Gujarat is termed as ‘Land of Festivals and Fairs’. These festivals and fairs reflects the rich cultural heritage of Gujarat.
Though the festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm, even amny fairs are organised during the change of season related to religious day or association that are mostly held in the huge open areas near river sides, sacred ponds, hills, reservoirs and confluences of rivers. In Gujarat fairs are mostly held on the full moon day. There are some Gujarat fairs and festivals that have attracted globally. Most of Gujarat’s festivals are mostly celebrated by women.
Fairs of Gujarat:
Modhera Dance Festival:
In the month of January, Gujarat celebrates the colors of the Kite Festival and the Modhera Dance Festival every year. This dance festival is a wonderful event organized in January for three days held at the Sun Temple. In this dance festival classical and folk dancers showcase their talent with several traditional dance forms of Gujarat.
Kutch Mahotsav:
In the months of February and March in Kutch region in Gujarat where Kutch Mahotsav is held every year for 6 days in the months of February and March. This festival serves as a guided tour of Kutch. Explore the beaches, ancient forts, green landscapes and rustic desert during the Mahotsav.
Bhavnath Mahadev Mela:
In the month of February during the occasion of Mahashivratri, Bhavnath Mahadev Mela is held near the Bhavnath Mahadev temple for five days in the foothills of Ginar. It is believed to be the abode of nine Nathas who are the immortal lords and protectors and the spiritually enlightened souls. A huge procession will be led by “Naga Bavas” (ascetics with no clothes on) seated on decorated elephants and holding flags. Some of cultural programmes will be organized perfrmed by leading troupes and exponents such as dance and music.
Dangs Darbar:
Dangs Darbar is the name of the annual fair held every year in Ahwa in the month of April. In this fair many 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 enliven the air during the fair.
Chitra Vichitra:
This Chitra Vichitra fair is a colourful event celebrated among the tribal people of Gujarat where tribal women gather at the river to mourn their dear departed ones. They are dressed in beautiful traditional costumes, Men wear blue shirt, dhoti and red or saffron turban and the women wearing ghagharas (skirts) are covered from head to toe with exquisite silver jewelry and attends the fair. Tribals use this occasion to find their spouses. Many breathtaking performances are a part in this fair with many numerous stalls that display the best of rural handicraft including exquisite silver jewelry.
Ravechi Fair:
In the month of August, at the Ravechi Mata Temple Fair in Kutch.located near Nana Reva there held a grand fair where more then 30 thousand people participate in this Ravechi Fair of different communities such as Ahir, Rabari and Charan.
Tarnetar Mela:
This Tarnetar Mela is held near an ancient Shiva temple in a village named Tarnetar. This fair is held every year for 3 days during the months of August and September. In this fair many of the tribes of Gujarat such as rabari, khant, kanbi. Koli, bharwad, charan and kathi participate in this fair. The Tarnetar Village in Gujarat bursts with joyous celebration as young girls and boys choose their life partners and mates
Bhadra Purnima Fair:
This Bhadra Purnima Fair will be held at Ambaji village that lies at the foothills of the Aravalli mountain range in north Gujarat. The temple of Ambaji is recognised as one of the original Shakti Pithas. On full moon days there is a virtual festival at Ambaji, but the full moon of Bhadrapad is one of the four most important festival days of the year, when agriculturists go to the temple in their thousands, along with members of the general public. There is a large fair on this occasion, while in the evening performances of Bhavai are held, and garba programmes are organised. Over five Lacs people come here during Bhadra Purnima fair.
Shyamlaji Fair:
The Shyamlaji Fair will be held in the month of November when the people of Gujarat flock in large numbers near River Meshwo and camp for two weeks, celebrating the Kalia Bhavji feast or the Shyamlaji Fair. Mostly tribal communities participate in the fair. the Shyamlaji Fair is of immense religious and ethnic significance in Gujarat also known as Kartik Purnima. Visitors participate in the fair in groups and sing devotional, carrying religious banners.
Vautha Fair:
Vautha is a place located about 60 kilometers away from Ahmedabad where Vautha fair is held at the Sangam Tirth which is the meeting of seven rivers. Vautha fair is the biggest fairs in Gujarat State that is held every year where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak, meet. At the fair site, visitors have a choice or several pastimes to indulge in. This is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat. About 4000 donkeys are brought every year for sale, usually by Vaniara traders.
Festivals of Gujarat:
Makar Sankranti:
In the mid of January month, Makar Sankranti festival is celebrated with great joy. During this festival lots of folk music and dance as well as kite flying are organized by Tourism Corporation of Gujarat. People of Gujarat gather on terraces to fly kites of various colours to celebrate Makar Sanskranti or Uttrayana, the welcome to the sun after the cold winter months.
Holi:
On a full moon day of Phalgun Sud Holi festival is celebrated to honor the event of one’s belief by lighting a bonfire of wood and cowdung which is erected in a conical shape over a small pit which is dug at the bottom. Such fires are lit on almost all important cross-sections of roads or in the chowk of the villages. Elders predict the coming monsoon on the basis of the direction in which the flag planted atop falls. Devotees offer coconut to the fire and the youth retrieve them amidst an applause of bystanders.
Holi is the principal religious festival of Adivasis in Gujarat. They abandon work and participate in constant folk dancing. The girls observe this festival by growing wheat in the bamboo baskets filled with earth and manure. In some tribes people indulge in the fowlest of abuse and mock fights.
Dhuleti:
The Dhuleti festival comes after Holi which is also called as Dhuli Padvo which means throwing of mud, the practice which has given way to throwing of vermilion. At times the merrymaking lapses into unhindered revelry as youngsters indulge into throwing paste colours, not only on their friends but also on strangers taking advantage of the permissiveness granted on the occasion.
Dhuleti is the most celebrated festival among Adivasis of Gujarat. In the villages of Panchmahals Adivasi men play a martial game known as Gol-Gadheda in which the women after snatching a shoulder scarf from a man, ties it on a tree top with a lump of molasses. It is the job of the man to retrieve it from there not an easy task as the tree is vigorously guarded by women. The game goes on till one of the men succeed in securing the bundle. Such is the boundless merrymaking of the day.
Mahuram:
Mahuram is the date when Muslims commemorate the death of Prophet’s grandson, Hussain. The highlight of this Muslim festival is the Tazia procession, which includes acrobats, drummers and singers. Miniature replicas of the martyr’s tomb are carried during the Tazia procession. The Tazia is made of bamboo and tinsel, and are double storied dome structures. There is competition among participants to offer the best Tazia, acrobatics, music and gymnastics.
Mahavir Jayanti:
The most important festival in Gujarat is the Mahavir Jayanti, that is celebrated throughout Gujarat in the honor of the birth anniversary of Mahavir, the founder of Jainism. This festival is celebrated throughout Gujarat with all the proper rituals by the Jains inth month of March. Jains during this time visit the sacred destinations and worship the Tirthankaras.
Janmashtami:
Janmashtami is celebrated as the day of Lord Shri Krishna’s birthday at the Jagat Mandir temple in Dwarka. Lord Shri Krishna is worshipped in infant form by lightening rows of lights everywhere, kirtans and bhajans are sung. People celebrate Janmashtami from the day before By performing rituals and fasting. And celebrate Rath Yatra with the traditional installation of the idols of Lord Krishna, Balrama and Goddess Subhadra on big chariots. The religious procession is carried out in the streets with devotees pulling the chariots.
Raksha Bandhan:
The Raksha bandan festival has a three fold significance. It is the day on which Brahmins change their sacred thread, Sisters tie Rakhi to their brothers, and Sea Faring communities worship the sea. It is the day celebrated by all sections of the Hindu society as a day dedicated to love of sisters for their brothers.
In the coastal areas of Gujarat state the day is celebrated as Nariyeli Poonam as sea farers worship the sea by offering coconuts and set sail after the monsoon break.
Ganesh Chaturthi:
Ganesh chaturthi, is celebrated as Lord Ganesh birthday. In Gujarat ladoos are distributed on the day-by tradition ladoos were placed in different corners of the house and eaten before the meal. Milk is offered to idols of lord Ganesh at home and at temples, and Ganesh puja is performed at all temples and hi-house prayer rooms.
Navratri:
Navratri is the festival of nine days with colourful events worshipping Goddess Durga the Divine Shakti. Navratri is held every year in the months of September and October and is celebrated with joy. Garba and the Dandia-Ras dances are the interesting feature of Navratri
Dussehra:
The tenth day after Navrathri is celebrated as Dussehra festival as the symbolic of the triumph of good over evil.
Diwali:
Diwali festival is celebrated all over the Gujarat State worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. Firecrackers of various types are burnt by youngsters.