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The Sun Temple, Modhera, and The Dance
Festival
A Dance Festival is held during the third week of January
every year at the Sun Temple,
Kachchh Mahotsava
Kachchh, with its colourful people, historic towns, and
exquisite handicrafts, often attracts visitors. The Tourism
Corporation of Gujarat, Ltd. (TCGL), organises a mahotsava
every year which consists of a six day tour of Kachchh,
in which all requirements of the visitors are taken care
of.
International
Kite Festival
The International Kite Festival held at
Ahmedabad on January 14, to coincide with the festival of
Uttarayan of Makar Sankranti, is a celebration to mark the
end of winter. After dusk, the kites carry oil lamps, lighting
the city in their ethereal splendour. People from all over
the world come to fly exotic kites of various designs and
shapes.
Shamlaji
Melo, Shamlaji
Also
known as Kartik Purnima Fair, the Shamlaji Melo is held
in November, every year and lasts for about two weeks, During
this period, nearly 2,00,000 people of all communities and
castes, including the tribal people of the area, Garasias
& Bhils, Visit the fair. Visitors usually come in groups,
and sing devotional songs, carrying religious banners.
Trinetreshwer Mahadev Fair,
Tarnetar
The fair is held every year on the 4th, 5th
and 6th of the Shukla Paksha (Aug-Sep) at the Trinetreshwar
(Three-eyed god) temple of Lord Shiva near Surendranagar.
Tarnetar is one of the most important Lord Shiva near
Surendranagar. Tarnetar is one of the most important matchmaking
melas. Tradition holds that if the girl stops to talk
to one of the men, it is a sign that she has found the
man of her choice.
Bhadra Purnima Fair
The Full moon of Bhadrapad is an important
festivals of the year, when agriculturists go to the temple
in thousands. Large fair is held on this occasion, while
performances of Bhavai are held and garba programmes are
organised in the evening.
Navrartri
Navratrui is one of the most well known festival
of Gujarat which lasts for nine days and ends on the Dussehra
day. The festival is dedicated to goddess Amba, Godess
of Shakti or force which supoorts the entire universe.
a circular dance performed by women around an earthware
pot called a garbo, filled with water. Also dandiya ras
or stick dance, in which men and women join the dance
circle, holding small polished sticks or dandias is performed
throughout the night.
The
Bhavnath Mahadev Fair, Junagadh
The
Bhavnath Mahadev Fair is held during Mahashivaratri for
five days in February. The mahapuja of Lord Shiva takes
place at midnight, on the 14th day of the dark half of the
month of Magh. When the puja starts naga bavas (naked sages)
move towards the fair seated on elephants, holding flags,
and blowing conch shells. Special stalls sell idols, rosaries
brought by vendors from Ayodhya and Mathura, utensils of
brass and copper, sweets and fruits.
Janmashtami
At
Dwarka
Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, is celebrated
with great splendour. Rows of lights are lit everywhere,
kirtans and bhajans are sung, sermons are delivered and
Krishna is worshipped in his infant from. Thousands of people
go to Dwarka to visit the temple and participate in the
fair.
Dangs
Darbar
The Dangs Darbar is an annual fair held in Ahwa every year,
a few days before Holi. The Darbar attracts merchants from
Nasik, Surat and West Khandesh. The Education Department
organises folk dances, ras and garba programmes, songs and
dramas.
Chitra-Vichitra
Fair, Gunbhakhari
The fair takes place in the village of Gunbhakhari is Sabarkantha
district, near the border of Rajasthan. It is held a fortnight
after the holi festival and is one of the largest adivasi
fairs that attracts large number of Bhils. Each group visiting
the fair carries its own drum and the atmosphere comes alive
with the incessant beat of drums.
Vautha
Mela
Vautha Mela, is a magnificent fair held every year
at Vautha where tow rivers - the Sabarmari and the Vatrak
meet. The pilgrims of severak castes and religions visit
the fair in large number which lasts for 2 or 3 days.
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