Ambaji Bhadra Purnima

Ambaji Bhadra Purnima is celebrated in Gujarat with pomp and grandeur. The main event takes place at the shrine of goddess Ambaji near the foothills of Aravalli mountain ranges. Ambaji Bhadra shrine is one of the oldest and attractive shrines in Gujarat. The festival takes place on the full moon night in the month of August or September. The festival and the fair attract tourists from different corners of the country as the devotees have a strong belief on the goddess.

The main festival takes place in the shrine of Goddess Ambaji, which remains populated by the tourists during the main event that takes place in the month of 'Bhadra' according to the local calendar. During the ceremony, the goddess is worshipped and devotees from different parts of the world gather to make their wishes come true. Ambaji shrine is one of the important shrines and is regarded as the 'Shakti Pitha'. On the full moon day, various religious rituals and the Garba performances take place near the shrine. The fair or mela in front of the shrine makes the event more attractive and significant.

The fair and the festival take place in the month of Bhadra which falls in the month of September. There is no particular idol and no specific shape of the Goddess. Ambaji Bhadra Purnima is the main seat of Hindus where Hindu religion acquires a different shape with the celebration.

Bhavnath Fair

Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. The Bhavnath Fair is the main festival on the occasion of Shivratri.

The 'Mela' or the fair is the best place where the Hindu customs and beliefs are perceptible. The fair is the meeting place of various cultures. Gujarat is the place where 5000 years old Hindu tradition can be witnessed in the fair. The sages, the devotees, all gather to make the occasion ostentatious. Participation of all people from different strata creates a wonderful atmosphere, where the mela takes its true meaning.

Bhavnath Fair of Gujarat takes place on the day of Maha Shivratri. On the very day, Bhavnath Mahadev temple is decorated and thousands of devotees across the country come to visit the fair and the festival. Fair is held on the adjacent ground of the temple where the sages from different corner of the country come to experience the holy occasion. The 'naga bavas' or naga sages move towards the temple on elephant's back to witness the maha puja. Shiva linga is worshipped and in the honor of the festival the fair is organized, which is now known nationwide. It is believed that Shiva himself had visited the shrine during the festival and this place is the abode of famous nine 'naths' of Hindu mythology. The sound of conch shell, drums and ululation create a pious ambience. The mela takes a holy shape with devotees, sages and spiritually elevated souls. The visitors are served free meals during the fair. In the fair different stalls give the visitors to buy the local handicrafts and other items.

Bhavnath fair is held during the Maha Shivratri festival of Hindus. The fair is famous and it is three days festival in the month of February. This fair is an important event which brings thousands of domestic as well as international tourists to the state. The religious and the ethnic significance of the fair can be well evident in its majestic and splendid aura.

The Bhavnath Fair is held at the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple near Damodar Kund, at Girnar Taleti, 8 km from Junagadh. Junagadh has a major railway station, and is also connected by ST buses to cities around the state. The nearest airport is in Rajkot, 110 km away.

About one lakh people from different regions of India, particularly from Gujarat and Marwad, have been coming here for many years. While many come clad in lively colors, the Ahirs and Mers of the Junagadh district are the most striking among them.

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.

Ravechi Fair

Gujarat is the seat of various religious and cultural orbs. Gujarat, with her rich heritage, gives tourists the true essence of history and culture. Ravechi Fair is an important tourist attraction of Gujarat.

This fairs of Gujarat being mainly religious, The Ravechi fair is no exception. The Ravechi fair is held near the Ravechi Mata temple. Thousands of devotees come and visit the place and that creates a wonderful and pious atmosphere.

Revelers at the Ravechi Fair make it a point to visit the Ravechi Mata temple, which is the main attraction of the fair. The temple is located in the Rav village of Gujarat. On the days of the fair, the temple and its presiding are beautifully decorated, thus creating a joyous and festive ambience. In this fair more than thirty thousands devotees and visitors visit the place and participate in the fair.

The fair's attraction lies in the multi-colored stalls, which are the best places to buy and spot the local handicrafts. The home made clothes, hand made fabrics, mirror works, embroidery and lace works are fine specimens of local handi works of the womenfolk of Gujarat.

The Ravechi fair of Gujarat is the perfect place for people from different cultures to unite. People from the communities like Ahir, Rabri and Charan take active part in the fair.

Ravechi Fair of Gujarat takes place at the end of Bhadra, a month in the local Hindu . This coincides with the month of September. Special buses are made available for the visitors during the fair and the festival.

Shamlaji Fair

Shamlaji Fair, Gujarat is one of the main fairs in Gujarat. The fairs of Gujarat are quite exceptional; the fairs and the festivals that come about in the state are the true examples of India's rich heritage. The Shamlaji Fair or the Kartik Purnima Fair is one of the main events in Gujarat where all the tribes take part to make it a grand one.

Shamlaji Fair of Gujarat is known as the Kartik Purnima Fair. The fair is celebrated by all the castes and communities of Gujarat; they are Garasias and Bhils who actively take part in the event. The celebration and the fair lasts for two weeks. The tribes mainly celebrate the fair where different stalls of local handicrafts and art and artifacts gives the tourists the opportunity to buy the local products that bear the significance of the place. The main festival is referred as the worship of the black deity named 'Kalio Bavji'.

Shamlaji is eminent for the Shamlaji Temple, Vaishnav Shrine. The temple bears all the traces of ancient architecture, according to the Archaeological Survey, the temple belongs to 11th century. All the fairs and festivals develop round the temple which shows the strong ethnic background of Shamlaji.

Apart from the fair, the auspicious bath in the river Meshwo is considered to be essential for the tourists for purgation. Tourists from different corners of the state and from neighboring states come and visit the holy destination of religion and culture.

Shamlaji Fair is held on the 'purnima' (full moon) of the month of 'Kartik' according to the local calendar, which falls in November. Tourists experience the true spiritual aura of Hindu culture and tradition in Gujarat.

Shamlaji is well-connected by railways and road routes. The village is located on the Ahmedabad-Delhi high road.

Tarnetar Fair

Tarnetar Fair, Gujarat is a popular fair in the state of Gujarat. This fair does not remain within the boundary of state but crosses it to reach the followers and the devotees.

That shows the importance and the significance of the fiesta. The fair of Tarnetar bears mythological significances. Mahabharata, the epic of Hindus bears various significances of the fair and the place. The fair is the best place where tourists can experience the rich heritage of India and the colorful vivacity that lies in every celebration.

Tarnetar Fair is an important festival in Gujarat. The festival originated from the days of Mahabharata. The three day festival of Swayamvar is organized every year. Young girls and boys dress in colorful clothes select their groom or bride respectively. This fair and the fiesta show the old tradition of choosing life partners of Hindu society. The festival is named after Tarnetar village that bears an oldest Shiva temple. The fair is an important event of the village. Ras Garba and Hudo are the main attractions of the fair where young girls and boys participate and add life to the social event. This event bears social relevancies than its religious ones.

Apart from this there is another distinctive feature of the fair is 'Tarnetar Chhatri' which is the colorful art and embroidery of Gujarat. These umbrellas bear intricate mirror work, embroidery and lacework.

The fair tales place in the month of August-September. According to the local calendar the fourth, fifth and sixth days of Shukla Paksha of the month. The fair and its social values add a different dimension. The relevancy and its focused objective have made the fair more significant and well-known.

The Tarnetar fair is held 8 km from the town of Thangadh, in Surendranagar District. This is the nearest railway station, on the Ahmedabad-Hapa broadgauge line. The nearest town with road transportation to other places is Chotila, 25 km from Thangadh, which is connected by ST buses from Rajkot (75 km), Jamnagar (162 km), Ahmedabad (196 km) or Porbandar (252 km.) From Bhavnagar, Chotila can be reached either via Rajkot, a trip of 264 km, or via Botad, a shorter journey of 190 km. Chotila, Thangadh and Tarnetar are well connected by ST buses and other mode of transportation. The nearest airport is Rajkot, 75 km away.

Being the most important fair of Saurashtra, Tarnetar is attended by more than 50,000 people. The main castes that have been participating are the Kolis, Rabaris, Bharwads, Khants, Kanbis, Kathis, Charans, the Harijans and the Desh-rabaris. With its growing reputation, visitors from rest of India and many different parts of the world are also seen here.

Vautha No Melo

Vautha No Melo is the largest fair in Gujarat. The fair brings various local villagers close and that creates a record number of visitors in the fair. The Vautha No Mela takes place near the confluence of seven rivers. The mela or fair is an important contributor to the rural economy of Gujarat. The fair is named after Vautha where the rivers Vatrak and Sabarmati meet.

The fair holds mythological as well as economical importance to the state. The fair grounds spread across 3 square miles of land. It is believed by the locals that Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva had visited the place. This incident gave rise to the festivities of the mela.

On the full moon night of November, that is the month of Kartik according to Hindu calendar, the grand fair of Gujarat starts. The site is famous as 'Saptasangam'; - a place of union of seven rivers. This place is the homeland of Saptarshi (Seven Sages). It is regarded as an auspicious spot with legendary significance.

Vautha No Mela takes place in the month of Kartik according to the local calendar, which coincides with the month of November. Thousands of tourists flock to the fair for an experience that is entirely rustic.This fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar, corresponding roughly to the month of November. It lasts for five days.

The magnificent Vautha Fair is held every year at Vautha, where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak meet. Dholka (26 kms away) is also believed to be ‘Virata Nagar’ of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise.

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.

The village of Vautha is small, with only 2000 inhabitants. Yet this fair brings together more than 500,000 visitors through the five days of the fair. The fair attracts people from the Jath Vanjara communities, as well as other pastoral groups. Villagers from surrounding agricultural areas of Bhal and Nalkantha in Ahmedabad district, and Charotar in Kheda district, are also seen in large numbers. It is good to see that although it was previously a fair frequented mostly by Hindus, now even Muslims visit it in fairly large numbers.