While going to Udaipur, Shamlaji is a town of great historical significance. It is 80 kms from Ahmedabad.The Shamlaji Temple is a renowned Vaishnav shrine, and the deity housed therein is known by various names including Gadadhar - bearer of the mace - and Shaksi Gopal.The temple is of archeological importance as it was built in the 11th century. There are several other temples and shrines as well, all of great antiquity.

The Shamlaji Fair also called the Kartik Purnima Fair and is held during the month of   November, every year. .Nearly 200,000 people of all communities and castes including the Garasias & Bhils visit the fair. It lasts for about two weeks The visitors come from the adjoining districts and even from Rajasthan. 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.Visitors usually come in groups, and sing devotional songs, carrying religious banners. A bath in the river Meshwo is considered important apart from the darshan of the deity in the temple.

THE GRAND FAIR AT VAUTHA - VAUTHA MELA

The village of Vautha is small and has only 2000 inhabitants where a magnificent fair is held every year where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak, meet. An incredible 200,000 number of visitors visit the fair during this time. As such, considered one of the largest of such fairs in Gujarat.

The fair has mythologican and current religious associations. 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. In actual fact, the great

Saptarishis or Seven Rishis stayed here for a while. These and other tales, lend the site an air of sanctity, which is enhanced by the fact that there are some famous temples there as well. The most important temple is the Shiva temple of Siddhanath. The pilgrims who visit Vautha during the Fair hail from several communities and include farmers, labourers and people belonging to several castes. Although essentially a fair frequented by Hindus, even Muslims visit it in fairly large numbers. It continues for 2 or 3 days. There is a lot of entertainment too.

It has its significance that it is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat, and certainly on a par with the famous camel fair at Pushkar in Rajasthan. Here, the animals traded are donkeys. About 4000 donkeys are brought every year for sale, usually by Vanzara people.

TARNETAR FAIR

There are many fairs in Gujarat where numerous tribal people gather on special occasions to participate in the various activities that take place at the fair, whether these are religious or secular, and to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The Trinetreshwer Mahadev Fair at Tarnetar, near the industrial town of Thangadli, Saurashtra, is one such fair. The fair is held every year on the 4th, 5th and 6th of the Shukla Paksha (Aug-Sep) near Surendranagar. This Fair is one of the most colourful events in the state of Gujarat. This three days fair is held at Temple of Shiva or Trinetreshwar (Three Eyed God) popularly known as Tarnetar.

A historical Background

It is believed that the fair has been held on this ancient site since antiquity. A popular belief associates the village fair with the story of Draupadi’s swayamvar. It was at this place that the great archer Arjuna performed the difficult task that won him his bride. A pole was erected in the centre of the kund and a fish was kept rotating at the top of the pole, at top speed. The contestant was supposed to climb up, balance himself with one foot on each of the two scales suspended there and looking at the reflection of the fish in the kund, pierce its eye with an arrow.

Matchmaking at Tarnetar

Today’s tribal youths also visit Tarnetar, as it is usually called, to find a suitable match.  Elegantly dressed in colourful dhotis, waistcoat and headcloth twisted at an angle on their heads, they hold large colourful embroidered umbrellas which indeed have become emblems of the fair. The umbrellas, embroidered by them for over a year, and their hairstyles, reveal their bachelor status. It is not surprising that, before the fair is over, they usually meet the lady of their choice!

Tarnetar is one of the most important matchmaking melas. Its associations with the Mahabharat are underlined by the fact that the area is known as Panchal Pradesh the land of the Panchal clan, to which Draupadi belonged. The sand here is reddish in colour. This too is supposed to have been characteristic of Draupadi’s homeland.

The Shiva Temple at Tarnetar

An ancient Shiva temple stood on the site, of which, photographs still exists, although the temple has vanished. The present temple was built on the banks of a rivulet and has a kund or reservoir in the traditional manner. The temple is constructed in the 14th century traditional style and presents a beautiful sight. As this is one of the most important fairs of Gujarat’s Saurashtra region, the Tarnetar fair, as it is usually called, is attended by at least 50,000 people. The participants are tribal people belonging to various groups, such as the Koli, Bharwad, Rabari, Khant, Kanbi, Kathi, Charan, and other castes. In recent years, visitors travel there from places as far afield as Ahmedabad. Even foreigners visit Tarnetar in growing numbers, due to its unique character.

The Fair at Tarnetar

Over 300 stalls are set up on the fair site, selling numerous objects and offering various types of food and refreshments. There are exhibitions of embroidery, a cattle show, and competitive sports. The famous ras, garba and hudo are features of the fair. Modern embellishments include a family planning stall, merry-go-rounds and photographer’s stall, all of which attract happy customers. This is a true folk fair, however, and its spirit remains unchanged. The beauty of this fair lies in the spontaneity with which the people joyously break into folk songs and folk dances to the rhythmic accompaniments of drums and an assortment of folk instruments. The young, both men and women swing and sway in gay abandon to the throbbing rhythm of the Ras Garba and the Hudo Dance. The most thrilling site of all is the Rasada, the fascinating folk dance performed by hundreds of women moving gracefully in a single circle, dancing gaily to the accompaniment of four drums and jodja pava (double flutes). Their gorgeous traditional costumes and captivating dances makes the Tarnetar fair a unique synthesis of folk art, folk dances, colour and folk music. For most of the visitors the fair is an essential part of their lives and one which they would not dream of missing. They renew old friendshps and make new ones there.

Another distinctive feature of the fair is the Tarnetar Chhatri (Umbrella). These Umbrellas are delightful treat for a connoisseur of art, meticulously embellished with mirror work intricate embroidery and enchanting lacework.

Gujarat Tourism makes arrangement from Ahmedabad/Rajkot to visit Tarnetar.

Accommodation in tents is available at the fair site for the visitors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FAIRS OF GUJARAT VISIT

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