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Baneshwar Fair - Fairs and Festivals in
India
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The name Baneshwar is
derived from the revered Shiva Linga which is kept in the Mahadev
temple in Dungarpur. "Baneshwar" means the 'master of the delta' in
the local Vagdi language and this name was given to Shiva Linga.The
Baneshwar fair is held at a small delta formed by the river Som and
Mahi, from Magh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Poornima during
Shivratri. (Jan-Feb).
The Baneshwar fair, in its present form is actually a merger of two
fairs: one which used to be held in honour of Baneshwar Mahadev (Lord
Shiva) and another fair which started after the construction of the
Vishnu temple by Jankunwari, daughter-in-law of Mavji, a highly
revered saint considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The Baneshwar fair is predominantly a tribal fair with more than half
of the congregation consisting of Bhils. They revere Baneshwar Mahadev
as well as Mavji. The majority of the gathering is from the Districts
of Dungarpur, Udaipur and Banswara.
The temple of Baneshwar Mahadev remains open from 5.00 a.m. to 11.00
p.m. during the fair. In the morning, saffron is applied to the Shiva
Linga after it is bathed and an aarti of burning incense is waved
before it. In the evening, bhabhut (ash) is applied to the Linga and
an aarti with a fine-wick lamp is waved. Devotees offer wheat flour,
pulses, rice, jaggery, ghee, salt, chillies, coconut and cash.
The Bhils attending Baneshwar Fair sing traditional folk songs in high
pitched voices sitting around a bonfire every night. Groups of
villagers are also invited to participate in the programme. The fair
resounds with the gaiety of songs, folk dances, magic shows, animal
shows and acrobatic feats. Adding to the excitement are the joy rides
on merry-go-rounds and swings.
The fair site is at a distance of 6.5 kms from Sabla, a village on the
Udaipur-Banswara-Dungarpur bus route which is at a distance of 123 kms
from Udaipur 53 kms from Banswara 45 kms from Dungarpur and 22 kms
from Aspur, the Tehsil headquarter. On normal days, one has to reach
Sabla from Baneshwar on foot or on private carts. However, buses go
right up to the bank of the river Som during the fair. |
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