Ajay Kumar at 08:32, 18 September 2023

2023-09-18T08:32:40Z

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'''Fairs in Birbhum''' refers to the many fairs that take place in [[Birbhum district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].

== Backdrop ==
Birbhum is a large but primarily rural district dotted with small towns. Many of the small towns had markets that were held on specific days in the week, where agricultural produce and products of cottage industry found a wide range of customers, many of whom travelled long distances to attend the markets. The fairs (''mela'' in Bengali) spread right across the district are thought of as an extension of the concept of markets, a place of not only trade and business but also a meeting place of people and an arena for cultural exchange.<ref name=paschim1>Mukhopadhyay, Aditya, ''Birbhumer Mela'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 203–214, (in Bengali), February 2006, Information and Culture Dept., Government of West Bengal</ref>

The largest and most notable fair is the [[Poush Mela]] held at [[Santiniketan]] for three days from 7 [[Poush]].<ref name=paschim1/><ref name=paschim3>Mondal, Dipanwita, ''Ek Najore Birbhum Jela'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 7–10</ref> The [[baul]] mela is held at [[Jaydev Kenduli]] on the occasion of Poush Sankranti or [[Makar Sankranti]]. It starts on the last day of the [[Bengali calendar]] month [[Poush]] and continues up to 2 [[Magh (Bengali calendar)|Magh]].<ref name=paschim1/> On the occasion of Choitro Sankranti, a fair is organised on the last day of the Bengali calendar month of [[Choitro]] and continues for three days at [[Kankalitala]].<ref name=paschim3/><ref name=paschim2>Sarkar, Joydeep, ''Paryatan Boichitre Birbhum Jela'', ''Paschim Banga'', Birbhum Special Issue, pp. 197–202</ref>
Lakhs of pilgrims assemble at [[Patharchapuri]] for the fair held on 10–12 Choitro commemorating the death anniversary of Data Saheb.<ref name=paschim1/><ref name=admin>{{cite web | url = http://birbhum.gov.in/ | title =Patharchapuri | access-date = 2009-03-01 | work = Tourism in Birbhum | publisher = District administration}}</ref>

Apart from these major fairs, numerous other fairs are held across the district. A few of them are mentioned here.

==Traditional fairs==
Medini mela is organised around the time of [[Muharram]] and [[Mid-Sha'ban|Shab e Baraat]] near the [[Mazar (mausoleum)|mazar]] of Shah Abdullah Kermani at [[Khustigiri]]. The emphasis in these fairs is on catering to the needs of rural women. [[Urs]] fair is organised on 15 [[Falgun]] at Langulia village in [[Suri, Birbhum|Suri]] police station and on 23 Falgun at [[Rajnagar, Birbhum|Rajnagar]].<ref name=paschim1/>

A fair is organised on [[Gautam Buddha|Buddha]] [[Full moon|Purnima]] day on the occasion of [[Dharmathakur|Dharmaraj]] Puja in Kaddang village. Dharmaraj puja fairs are held at several other places – in Banashanka village on Buddha Purnima day, in Kandapur village on [[Shravan]]i Purnima day, and in Kurmitha village on the occasion of [[Asharh|Asarhi]] Purnima. Lebrashwar celebrates Shiva Gajan with a three-day fair. Villages such as Parui, Katna, Rongaipur etc. celebrate Brahmadaitya Puja with fairs spread across several days in the early part of [[Magh (Bengali calendar)|Magh]]. Khosnagar has a fair for [[Saraswati|Saraswati Puja]].<ref name=paschim1/>

[[Tarapith]] sports a festive look round the year, but a special fair is held on the occasion of Shukla chaturdashi in the month of [[Ashvin]]. Birchandrapur, about {{convert|8|km}} from Tarapith and a centre of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] pilgrimage, organises fairs for [[Rath Yatra]] and Goshtaastami. The birth anniversary of [[Nityananda]] is celebrated with Aradhanar mela in the month of Magh. The area is also known as [[Ekachakra]], the place where the [[Pandava]]s spent some time in anonymity.<ref name=paschim1/>

[[Maha Shivaratri|Shivaratri]] mela is organised at Dabuk, which boasts of the tallest [[Shiva]] temple in Birbhum. Shibgram in [[Mayureswar]] police station organises a fair for [[Makar Sankranti]]. A Brahmadaitya Mela is organised on 1 Magh on the banks of Ramsagar at Dheka. A week-long fair is organised at Kaleswar on the occasion of Shivaratri in Falgun. The fair organised on the banks of the [[Mayurakshi River]] at Suganpur on the occasion of Buddha Purnima in Boisakh continues for three months. The Urs fair of Malang Zakaria Pir is held on 22–23 Poush at Tildanga. Lohajang Saheb Pirer Mela is held at Bara village near Lohapur on 2–20 Magh.<ref name=paschim1/>

A fair is organised on the first three days of Poush in honour of Sasan Kali at Bumkotala, at the western end of [[Rampurhat]]. The fair comes alive with the singing and dancing of [[Santal]]s. Choitro Sankranti fair is held in precincts of Dhamri Kali, on the banks of Brahmani River, in [[Nalhati]] police station. Traditionally large numbers of goats were offered to the goddess. Sri Gopaler Mela is held at Kaluha village on the occasion of [[Holi|Dol]]. Banbater Mela is held for seven days starting from a day after Saraswati Puja at Kurugram. A month-long fair at Rudranagar near Chatra, organised on the occasion of Basanti Puja, has on display the work of local craftsmen. A fair is organised on the occasion of [[Kali|Kali Puja]] for 10–15 days at Jajigram.<ref name=paschim1/>

Chandidas Mela is organised on the banks of Denta Pukur in [[Nanoor]]. The week–long Radhamadhab Mela is organised from 14 Choitro at Charkalgram near Nonoor. A three–day fair is organised on the occasion of Saraswati Puja at [[Hetampur]].

==Modern fairs==
Magh Mela at [[Sriniketan]] is basically a fair displaying rural crafts. Sri Sri Ramakrishna Ashram organises Abhedananda Mela at [[Dubrajpur]] in December. Netaji Subhas Mela is held for 10 days from 1 Magh around Raksha Kali temple in the outskirts of [[Sainthia]]. The once famous Barabaganer Mela in Suri closed down long ago. Similarly, Vivekananda Mela and Sarada Mela also closed down.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Birbhum topics}}

[[Category:Birbhum district]]
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Fairs in India]]

Fairs in Birbhum - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 08:32, 18 September 2023