QUE: Please prepare a report based on your recent visit to the Tarnetara Mela.

Tarnetar Fair: A Celebration of Joy, Enthusiasm and Excitement

I recently had a golden opportunity to visit the fair held every year in the premises of the temple of Treneteshwar Mahadev in the Panchal region of Saurashtra, i.e. Surendranagar district and its Lakhtar. This fair, which starts on the third day of the month of Bhadarva, has unique cultural and historical importance. This Trenetar fair is a unique confluence of joy, youth and art.

On the day of Bhadarva Sud Panchami, we people joined the beginning of this fair by worshiping Mahadev early in the morning. On this day of Rishi Panchami, after the Ganga Avataran Aarti early in the morning, a fifty-two-foot flag was hoisted to Treneteshwar Mahadev by the Mahant of Palliad. Since bathing in the tanks located in the three corners of the temple has a unique significance on this day, we also became a part of this sacred tradition, which was really a process that infused new energy into the body. We also got the benefit of Ganga Vidya Aarti in the evening at this place.

A large number of people had gathered at the fair since morning. Girls and youth were seen roaming around in traditional attire in this fair. Guests from different parts of the country and foreign guests also came to this fair.

This fair was a little different and special from other fairs because of the color of Gujarati folk culture in this fair. Here, the energetic fun of Raas, Garba, Daha and Chhand was heard. Titoda and Hudaras are an integral part of the Tarnetar fair, which fills the mind with joy just by seeing it.