Fair & Festivals

The people in the District still continue to follow the old festivals and traditions of observing Amavasya and Purnmashi in Lunar Month. Amavasya is the last day of the dark fortnight of the Lunar Month and Hindu say special prayers and give alms. Purnmashi is the end of the Lunar Month and stands for the Full Moon Night. However, the most significant festivals celebrated here are Teej, Raksha Bandhan, Janamashtmi, Gugga Naumi, Dussehra, Diwali, Sankrant, Vasant Panchami, Shivratri, Holi, Gangor and Ram Navmi. All these Hindu Festivals in the District as elsewhere are celebrated with full devotion and gay. The festivals of Jains, Sikhs, Muslims and Christians are also celebrated with equal enthusiasm.

The two festivals viz., Teej and Gangor carry wider local significance. The former is celebrated on Sawan Sudi-3 (July-August) while the later on Chet Sudi-3 (March-April) every year with great festivity and fairs on these occasions are held at many places.

Teej opens the gala of festival celebration which continues till Gangor. Next to Teej and equally important for the teenaged girls is the Kartik Snan which falls in the month of Kartik (October-November). The Girls after a regular baath and worshipping Lord Krishna for full month in the early hours of the day in the village pond go for Ganga Snan. The festival is connected with Lord Krishna who is said to have promised the Gopis that he would meet them in the month of Kartik. The idol of Sanjhi is made on the wall of the House with Clay and is fully decorated with clothes and ornaments just ten days before Dussehra. The girls daily sing in praise of Sanjhi till her erected idol is immersed into village pond on Dussehra with full honour and show. Goverdhan Pooja is observed on the day following Diwali, when cow dung collected in the court yard is worshipped. This worship is connected with Lord Krishna.

Sankrant is celebrated on Magh-1 (January-February). People take bath in the morning, clean their houses and the newly married women honour the elders of the family by presenting the gifts to them. Phag, which is ceremonised on the day following Holi is an occasion to play with Colour, Water and Korda. Men, who throw water on women are chased by the women for pleasant beating. The joyful battle and fun continue till the conclusion of celebrations at late night.

After fourteen days of Holi, Gangor celebrations fall. On the day, Idols of Ishar and Gangor are taken out in procession and songs in their praise are sung till they are immersed into water.

Most of the fairs are of religious origin, however, they also exhibit a bit commercial colour as thousands of people participate. The traders obviously grace the occasion to sale their goods.

A fair popularly known as Mela Ram Dev is held annually at Kagdana, Ludesar, Ellenebad, on Magh Sudi-10 (January-February), on Magh Sudi-9 at Kurangawali and bi-annually at Mandi Dabwali on Bhadon Badi-10 (August-September) and Magh Badi-10 (January-Februray). This fair is dedicated to Ram Dev Ji Maharaj (1469-1575) who is said to be a saint of Tanwar-Rajput clan hailing from Runicha in the then Bikaner State. A fair of Gangor is held in the District at Ellenebad and Sirsa town on Chet Sudi-3 (March-April) and at Bhagsar, a day earlier ie Chet Sudi-2.

A particular type of fair called Mela Sacha Sauda is held at Sirsa town on the last Sunday and at Shahpur Begu and Jagmalwali on first Sunday of every month. This fair is celebrated in the memory of a faqir Shah Mastana who preached thankfulness and fair dealings.

Another such type of fair known as Mela Baba Bhuman Shah is held at Mangala, Moujdin, Kuta Badh and Gidranwali. The date of fair varies from place to place and concides with the visit of Baba Bhuman Shah (Belongining to Kamboj Community) to above places.

Another Socio-Religious fair called Hola is held at Jiwan Nagar on Chet Badi-1 (March-April). It is widely celebrated by the people belonging to Namdhari Sect. Mass marriages among Namdharis are performed on this occasion.

The Baisakhi fair is held at Sirsa town on Baisakh-1 (April-13) with full zeal, which, reflects the joy among peasantry in particular and masses in general. On this day, a fair known as Mela Baba Boota Singh is also held at Suchan (Mandi) in the memory of the Baba.

A fair known as Mela Shah-Bu-Shah is held at Panihari on Bhadon-1 (August-September). It is celebrated in the memory of a Muslim Saint Shah-Bu-Shah. People worship the samadhi of the Saint on this day.

The fair dedicated to Goddess Devi held at Kagdana on Magh Sudi-10 (November-December) and the Gugga fair held at Chautala on Bhadon Badi -9 (August-September) are other important fairs of the district.