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| BHAVNATH
MAHADEV FAIR |
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| Celebrated In
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Junagarh, Gujarat. |
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| Venue :
Bhavnath Mahadev Temple |
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| Time of the
festivity :
Month of February |
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| Duration :
5 Days |
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| The city of Junagadh, situated at
the foot of Mount Girnar, is famous as the site of many historical events,
dating from the remote past. The Edicts of Asoka (3rd Century B.C ) are
inscribed on a rock at Junagadh. The peaks of Girnar, the
highest of which is the Gorakhnath (3,666 ft), are dotted with numerous
Jain temples. The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, located at the foot of Girnar, is so
ancient that its precise, origins are unknown. The Bhavnath temple is
surrounded by many equally ancient and holy places. |
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| Buddhist caves are also found in
and around at Upperkot, Junagadh. |
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| The fair during Mahashivaratri is
held for five days and takes place during February, and the events associated
with it are colourful indeed. The mahapuja of Load Shiva takes place at
midnight, in the temple , on 14the day of the dark half of the month of Mage.
When the puja started, naga bavas (naked sages) living nearby move towards the
fair seated on elephants, holding flags, and blowing conch shells, sounding
tungis and turis. It is firmly belived that Lord Shiva himself visits the
shrine on this occasion. Girnar is said to be the abode of the nine Nathas, who
are immortal, and eighty-four siddhas or spiritually elevated souls all of whom
also visit the temple, in their invisible spiritual bodies. |
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| Vistors are sered free meals by
the organisers. Special stalls sell idols, rosaries brought by vendors from
Ayodhya and Mathura, utensils of brass and copper, sweets and fruits. |
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| From Junagadh one can journey
easily to nearby Porbandar (112 kms away)on the west coast, where Mahatma
Gandhi was born. Equally close by (88 kms) is Veraval, where the rebuilt of
Somnath, stands proudly. Further along the coast is the former Portugues colony
of Div. Sasan Gir, the last habitat of Asiatic lion is only 60 kms from
Junagadh. |
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