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| SHAMLAJI
MELA |
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| Celebrated In
:
Shamlaji Temple, Gujarat. |
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| Also called as
:
Kartik Pournima Fair |
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| Time of the
festivity :
Month of Novemer. |
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| Duration :
Two weeks |
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| The Shamlaji Mela, also called the
Kartik Purnima fair is held in the month of November every year and lasts for
about two weeks. It is attended by almost two hundred thousand people from
adjoining districts and even from Rajasthan. |
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| THE VENUE: |
| The Shamlaji Temple is a renowned
Vaishnav Shrine and the deity housed here is known by various names included
'Gadadhar' (bearer of the mace) and 'Shaksi Gopal'. The temple is of great
archaeological significance as it was built in the 11th century. Apart from a
darshan of the deity in the temple, the pilgrims consider a bath in the river
Meshwo essential. |
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| THE PEOPLE IN
ATTENDANCE: |
| Devotees belonging to various
castes and communities including the 'Garasias' and 'Bhils' throng this
festival. These pilgrims come in groups, singing devotional songs and carry
religious banners to have an audience of the deity at the Shamlaji Temple. |
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| 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. |
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