Gujarat Festivals
Festivals of Gujarat
Dangs Darbar
Dangs Darbar is the name of the annual fair held every year in Ahwa,
the most important town in the Dangs a few days before Holi. The
Dangs is one of the most delightful districts of Gujarat and is
located 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 enliven the air during the
festival.
Bhavnath Mahadev Mela
The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, situated at the foot of Mount Girnar in the city of Junagadh is the site of the Bhavnath Mahadev fair held for five days in February, during the festival of Mahashivratri. The Mahapuja of Lord Shiva takes place at midnight in this temple on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Magh. When the puja (prayer ceremony) starts, Naga Bavas (naked sages) living nearby, move towards the fair seated on elephants, holding flags and blowing conch shells. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself visits the shrine on this occasion. Visitors are served free meals by the organizers. Special stalls sell idols, rosaries or holy beads brought by vendors from Ayodhya and Mathura, utensils of brass and copper, sweets and fruits.
Chitra - Vichitra Mela
This fair, one of the largest, purely Adivasi
(tribal) fairs, takes place every year in the village of Gunbhakhari
in Sabarkantha district. It is held a fortnight after Holi, the
festival of colours. The site of the fair is attractive as the
temple overlooks the rivers Sabarmati, Akul and Vyakul. The name of
the fair is derived from Chitravirya and Vichitraviraya, the sons of
King Shantanu, who are believed to have lived here and been cured of
diseases which afflicted them. The fair attracts large numbers of
Bhils (tribals) who come from all the surrounding districts using
every imaginable form of transport. The Garasis and Bhil tribals
dress in their customary colourful costumes. The costume of the men
generally consists of a blue shirt, dhoti and a red or saffron
turban. Every group that comes to the fair carries its own drum
making the atmosphere come alive with the incessant beat of numerous
drums. The women sing folk songs, and everyone dances. Over a
hundred stalls hold food and drink, and sweets of various kinds.
Dhrang Fair
Around 40 kms from Bhuj, it is known for the samadhi of the famous
saint Menkan Dada who served the community with great love and
dedication and won their devotion. He was an
incarnation of Lakshmanji. A large fair is held on Magh Vad when a
large number of Dada's followers from different parts of Gujarat and
Rajasthan come to the Samadhi and participate in religious rituals.
Trinetreshwar Mahadev Fair
The small hamlet of Tarnetar, about 75 kilometers from Rajkot, is
the site for one of Gujarat's most well known annual fairs, held
here during the first week of Bhadrapad (September-October). This
fair is primarily a 'marriage mart' or 'Swayamvar' for the tribal
youth of today who still visit Tarnetar, to find them a suitable
bride. The tribal youth elegantly dressed in colourful dhotis,
waistcoats and eye-catching turbans come to be chosen by village
belles dressed in colourful finery. Like all-important tribal fairs,
it is attended by tribes from the adjoining who indulge in dancing,
competitive sports and other such forms of entertainment. There are
over 300 stalls selling food, refreshments, exhibiting embroidery
and cattle shows. The bachelors are usually identified by their
large colourful embroidered umbrellas and their distinctive
hairstyles.
Vautha Mela
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. Also, major Donkey trading fair is held.
Shamlaji Melo
The Shamlaji Melo, also called the Kartik Purnima fair is held in
the month of November every year and lasts for about two weeks. It
is attended by almost two hundred thousand people from adjoining
districts and even from Rajasthan. The pilgrims come in groups,
singing devotional songs and carry religious banners to have a
darshan (worship)of the deity at the Shamlaji Temple. 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 fair is also popular with the tribal people of the
area, particularly the Bhils, who revere Shamlaji, the deity they
refer to as 'Kalio Bavji', the dark divinity. The temple is of great
archaeological significance 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.
Makar Sankranti and Kite Flying Festival
It is celebrated with lots of folk music and dance as well as kite flying. The atmosphere at the festival is electrifying-glass strenghtened threads of the Indian fighter kites are matched against each other in the air, and the kite fighter who cuts the other thread is the victor. Typical food like Undiya, sugar cane juice and local sweets are served to celebrate the day.
Dance Festival - Modhera
Resting on a knoll in the village of Modhera, the ruins of the 11th century Sun Temple are an impressive sight. The outer walls of the temple are covered with sculptures in which the figures of Lord Surya, the sun god are prominent. The Sun Temple is the site of an annual festival of Indian classical dances organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat. The idea is to present classical dance forms in an atmosphere they were originally presented in.
The Kutch Mahotsav
The ‘Kutch Festival’ or the ‘Rann festival’ is celebrated at the
time of the Shiv Ratri in February/ March. The centre of the
festival is Bhuj in Kutch. It has crafts, fairs and folk dances and
music and cultural shows, all organized by the Gujarat Tourism.
Tours are also conducted, out to the ruins of Dhola Vera, a city
that was once a part of the Indus Valley civilization.
Holi
Essentially a spring festival, It is done 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.
Dhuleti
The next day after Holi is Dhuleti or Dhuli Padvo. Literally it
means throwing of mud, the practice which has given way to throwing
of vermilion.
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. Tazia is a
Persian term for weeping, and devout followers beat their chests to
express grief. Shia Muslims fast for 10 days during the
festival.
Janmashtami
Janmashtami, the day Shri Krishna was born is celebrated with great
devotion at the Jagat Mandir a temple built 1400 years ago in Dwarka.
Devotees throng in thousands to celebrate this joyous occasion. Rows
of lights are lit everywhere, kirtans and bhajans (devotional songs)
are sung, sermons are delivered and Krishna is worshipped in his
infant form. The temple of Ahmedabad the pilgrim towns of Dakore &
Dwarka, the fairs of Bayayali & Dwarka, all throng with devotees of
the great Lord Krishna. For celebrating Janmashtami the rituals
begin on the previous day with fasting, prayers and celebrations.
Rath Yatra
The mammoth procession of Rath Yatra at
Ahmedabad is the biggest in Gujarat. It starts from the Jagdish
Mandir situated in the Jamalpur area of the city early in the
morning. There are three separate chariots for the idols of Krishna,
Balram and their sister Subhadra. The chariots resemble those at
Jagannath Puri and are adorned with garlands. Music bands and Bhajan
Mandlis lead the procession. Decorated elephants also move with the
procession and gymnasts and acrobats perform astonishing feats.
Numerous sadhus of all Vaishnavite sects and devotees join in this
procession headed by the Mahant of Jagannath Temple.
Raksha Bandhan
This 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. Whereas
generally the day celebrated by all sections of the Hindu society as
a day dedicated to love of sisters for their brothers. The practise
of tying the rakhi or the protective knot symbolizing the good
wishes, has been an ancient one. Kuntamata of Mahabharat had tied
rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu. Another important historic incident
narrates how the queen Jhorabai of Mewad summoned the help of
Emperor Humayun against the invading forces of Gujarat Sultan by
sending him a rakhi. The day is also celebrated as Nariyeli Poonam
in the coastal areas of the State. The sea farers worship the sea by
offering coconuts and set sail after the monsoon break.
Bhadra Purnima
The full moon of Bhadrapad is one of the four most important festival days of the year, when farmers and agriculturists come to Ambaji, a place that derives its name from Goddess Ambaji whose shrine is located here. On this occasion, a large fair is organized on full moon days. In the evening, performances of Bhavai, the folk drama of the state is held and Garba programmes are organized. The devout attend readings of the Saptashati, the seven hundred verses in praise of the goddess and visit the temple for a darshan (worship) of her. The Ambaji shrine is the principal shrine of the goddess in Gujarat and its origins are still unknown. The Temple of Ambaji is recognized as one of the original Shakti Pithas (religious texts) where, according to the ancient Scriptures, the heart of the goddess Ambaji fell to earth when her body was dismembered. A triangular Vishwa Yantra, inscribed with figures and the syllable 'Shree' in the centre, represents the deity.
Navratri
Navratri, meaning nine nights is a colourful and ancient festival honouring the Mother Goddess- the Divine Shakti who supports the entire universe, protects worshippers, destroys evil and grants boons to her children. The mother goddess has seven well-known forms, including Kali one of her fiercest manifestations. Navratri is held annually in September-October and is celebrated with joy and religious fervour. An interesting feature of Navratri is the Garba and the Dandia-Ras dances. The costumes worn for the dances are traditional and extremely colourful. These dances start very late at night and end in the early hours of the morning.
Dussehra
Dussehra, a ten-day festival in September-October is symbolic of the
triumph of good over evil.
Diwali
The last day of the Hindu year of the Vikram era is celebrated as
Diwali or festival of lights all over the State. According to the
Purana, Lord Vishnu had rescued Goddess Lakshmi from the hold of
King Bali on this day. It is also believed that on this day Lord
Rama returned to Ayodhya. Sathia(Swastik) and Rangoli (making of
attractive designs by coloured powder) marks every courtyard with
rows and rows of earthen lamps lighting up the surrounding area and
giving a special touch of festivity. Merchants worship Goddess
Lakshmi and the books of accounts. At night firecrackers of various
types are burnt by youngsters. The next day or Kartik Sud 1, the
first of the Hindu calendar is celebrated as New Years Day with
great solemnity.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh is remembered on chauth or chaturthi, the 4th day of every
month of the Hindu calendered, but most of all on Ganesh Chaturthi
which is celebrated as his birthday. 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. Fasting, feasting and
distribution of sweets offered to Lord Ganesh are important aspects
of Ganesh chaturthi rituals in India. No new venture - the
inauguration of a company, the opening of a shop, the foundation of
a building, entering a new home - is deemed incomplete by Hindus
without a Ganesh puja.