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The multitudinous lifestyle and vigor of the
people of Uttar Pradesh are reflected in the
colorful vibrancy of their fairs and
festivals. Whether it's the village, still
steeped in tradition, or the town,
tentatively modern, an awareness of one's
roots is deeply ingrained in each. And is
outwardly manifested through festivities the
year round. Fairs (melas) and festivals are
celebrated with traditional gaiety and
fervor to invoke divine blessings as well as
for the sheer joy of living.
January
Kumbh Mela
The month long Kumbh Mela of Allahabad is
one of the largest fairs of the world and is
attended by millions of pilgrims from all
over India as well as the devout from the
world over. It is held every 12 and 6 years
alternatively in the months of
January-February, on the banks of the holy
sangam (union) of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and
the mythical Saraswati.
The city of Allahabad is known as "Teerth
raj" or the holiest of the
holy cities. Allahabad is mentioned in the
Puranas and the Ramayana written by the sage Valmiki. According to religious texts, in
ancient times there was a fierce battle
between the Gods and the Demons. During the
battle, the ocean underwent a great churning
from which were obtained fourteen fabulous
jewels and a pitcher of nectar. The battle
raged for twelve years during which time the
pitcher of nectar was kept at twelve
different places. Of these, eight places are
in the abode of the Gods and four are on
earth, including Allahabad.
During the days of the Mela, a temporary
township comes on the banks of the Ganga
River to shelter millions of pilgrims. Tents
are pitched with streamers and banners from
every sect swirling in the breeze. The misty
winter dawn unfolds to reveal the
processions of holy men going for their
ritual bath in the river. In their wake
follow men, women and children with
awe-inspiring faith who wish to be blessed
by contact with the divine.
Magh Mela
(Mini Kumbha)
It is the
annual version of the Kumbh and Ardha (Half)
Kumbh melas held during the months of
January/February, at Allahabad & Uttarkashi.
March
Holi
Holi heralds the beginning spring and is
celebrated with great enthusiasm all over
India. According to a legend Hiranya
Kashyap, the demon that ruled over 'Sapta Deep' believed himself to be more
powerful than God. He contemplated killing
his youngest son Prahlad, an ardent
devotee of Lord Vishnu after he refused to
worship him as God. Holika, the
demon's sister who possessed a divine
garment to protect her from fire, agreed to
enter the burning pyre with Prahlad in her
lap but got burnt herself. Holi thus
signifies the triumph of good over evil and
is marked by grand festivities all over
India and particularly in the Braj area
where it is celebrated with great gaiety and
fervor.
It is believed that Lord Krishna, an
incarnation of Lord Vishnu, in human form
played holi with the Gopi's (cowherd maids)
in the ancient past. Keeping this tradition
alive in Braj, Holi celebrations last for
more than a week and are marked by people
sprinkling colored water &
smearing colored powder on each
other. The playful teasing of the Gopis by
the Gopas (cowherd boys) is enacted by
groups of men and women through special Holi
songs and dances, called Rasiya.
Kampil Fair,
Kampil
Kampilya called Kampil, today, is a village
in Tehsil Kasgang of Etah district, situated
on the banks of the Ganga. During the epic
period it was the capital of King Drupad,
the father of the Queen Draupadi, wife of
the five Pandava's of Mahabharat. It was the
birthplace of the 13th Tirthankar
Brahlan Vimal Nath and was graced by the
visit of Lord Mahavir. The neighboring ruins
and mounds contain the relics and sculptures
of Jain period. Every year a Jain Mela is
held for five days in the month of March
thronged by Jain devotees.
Jhanda Fair
(Dehradun)
This fair marks the arrival of Guru Ram Rai,
the Sikh Guru, at Dehradun. In the year
1699, Guru Ram Rai built a Gurudwara, Guru
Ram Rai Durbar and hoisted his flag. Till
this day a large fair is held here every
year in the month of March/April on the
sixth day after Holi and a flag (Jhanda)
unfurled at Jhanda Chowk.
April
Celebrations at
Braj Bhomi
Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna,
where his parents lived in captivity of the
evil Kamsa and He as a young boy came and
vanquished his maternal uncle Kamsa to
ascend the throne and free his parents,
celebrates Janmashtami with great
enthusiasm. The celebrations are performed
at the Dwarkadhish temple, Mathura in the
form of Jhulanotsava at the Ghats during the
entire month of Shravan.
It was on the banks of the Yamuna River
where Lord Krishna played during his
childhood and indulged in pranks and tricks
with his friends and the gopikas. There are
about 400 temples dedicated to Lord Krishna
in this sacred city and the major
festivities are held at the Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balaram temple and
Gopinath temple. The Raslila of Braj is
thematically the basis of many performing
arts.
Ayodhya, the holy city of the sacred pilgrim
center of Hindus plays host to the Ramnavmi
Festival in the month of April. Thousands of
worshippers gather to venerate the Lord at
Kanak Bhawan.
Jauljibi Thal Fairs
Held every year on Makar Sanskranti at
Jauljibi 68 kilometers from Pithoragarh, the
confluence of the rivers Kali & Gori.
People come even from Nepal to this fair to
sell horses, ghee foreign goods & take
back food grains, jaggery etc. A similar
fair is held at Thal on Vaishakh Sankranti
(14th April).
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