Sonepur Mela : World’s Most Famous Cattle Fair

SONEPUR: The world famous Harihar Kshetra mela, popularly known as Sonepur mela, is all set to begin here on Thursday with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the state land reforms and revenue minister, Ramai Ram.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi, the chief guest of the inaugural function, has reportedly refused to inaugurate the fair on the ground that the day falls on the eve of “Kartik Purnima” which is considered inauspicious in Hindu mythology with regard to beginning of any new work.

The Sonepur mela is held here on a sprawling 200 acres of land. The mela will continue for 25 days. As per the tradition, lakhs of people assemble at different ghats of Harihar Kshetra at Hajipur and Sonepur on the eve of “Kartik Purnima” and take holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, the Gandak and the Mehi rivers. The devotees offer “Gangajal” to the Hariharnath temple and this ritual marks the beginning of the Sonepur mela.

The Sonepur mela has a profound historic grandeur. According to the travelogue of a British administrative officer, W W Hynter, in 1919, the Sonepur mela used to be held in over 43 villages in the past.

According to sources, the mela venue in the past also used to serve as a prime place for freedom movement. In fact, the fair was for the first time held on the Hajipur side around the 16th century. Later, the mela was shifted to the Sonepur side at the initiative of the then British officials to suppress the freedom movement.

According to official sources, the Sonepur mela is losing its sheen gradually due to the apathetic attitude of the state government. The arrival of cattle, particularly elephants, is expected to be poor this year. The ban on sale of elephants has badly affected the fair.

Expressing anguish, a local said: “J ab Laluji MP hai tab bhi mela ka kuchh hua aur Rabri Devi bhi udghatan karne nahin aa rahi hai .”

“The state government has reduced the grandeur and image of the Sonepur mela to that of a nautanki mela ,” said former civil aviation minister and Chapra BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy while talking to ToI here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Vaishali district administration has made elaborate security arrangements at the Kaunhara ghat.

–
Thanks & Regards,

Ved Prakash Sinha
09334851615

For, Renown Advertising & Management Group
210-A, Ashiana Galaxy
Exhibition Road, Patna – 1 (BIHAR)
09334853329

www.renowngroup.co.cc
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Sonepur Mela : The World Famous Cattle Fair

SONEPUR: The world famous Harihar Kshetra mela, popularly known as Sonepur mela, is all set to begin here on Thursday with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the state land reforms and revenue minister, Ramai Ram.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi, the chief guest of the inaugural function, has reportedly refused to inaugurate the fair on the ground that the day falls on the eve of “Kartik Purnima” which is considered inauspicious in Hindu mythology with regard to beginning of any new work.

The Sonepur mela is held here on a sprawling 200 acres of land. The mela will continue for 25 days. As per the tradition, lakhs of people assemble at different ghats of Harihar Kshetra at Hajipur and Sonepur on the eve of “Kartik Purnima” and take holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, the Gandak and the Mehi rivers. The devotees offer “Gangajal” to the Hariharnath temple and this ritual marks the beginning of the Sonepur mela.

The Sonepur mela has a profound historic grandeur. According to the travelogue of a British administrative officer, W W Hynter, in 1919, the Sonepur mela used to be held in over 43 villages in the past.

According to sources, the mela venue in the past also used to serve as a prime place for freedom movement. In fact, the fair was for the first time held on the Hajipur side around the 16th century. Later, the mela was shifted to the Sonepur side at the initiative of the then British officials to suppress the freedom movement.

According to official sources, the Sonepur mela is losing its sheen gradually due to the apathetic attitude of the state government. The arrival of cattle, particularly elephants, is expected to be poor this year. The ban on sale of elephants has badly affected the fair.

Expressing anguish, a local said: “J ab Laluji MP hai tab bhi mela ka kuchh hua aur Rabri Devi bhi udghatan karne nahin aa rahi hai .”

“The state government has reduced the grandeur and image of the Sonepur mela to that of a nautanki mela ,” said former civil aviation minister and Chapra BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy while talking to ToI here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Vaishali district administration has made elaborate security arrangements at the Kaunhara ghat.

Thanks & Regards,

Ved Prakash Sinha
09334851615

For, Renown Advertising & Management Group
210-A, Ashiana Galaxy
Exhibition Road, Patna – 1 (BIHAR)
09334853329

www.renowngroup.co.cc
www.renownadvertising.blogspot.com : www.ruraladvertising.blogspot.com

vedprakash@renowngroup.co.cc  ;  advertising@renowngroup.co.cc

Rural Festivals in Uttar Pradesh / UP

Fairs & Festivals in Uttar Pradesh / UP 

 

Festivals of almost all the religions are celebrated in U.P. The composite culture of the State is famous all over India. Various communities celebrate as many as 40 festivals with gaity and complete communal harmony. Sheetla Ashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Vaishakhi Purnima, Ganga Dashahara, Naag Panchami, Krishna Janmashtami, Ram Navami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Vijaya Dashmi, Deepawali, Kartik Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Vasant Panchami, Shivaratri and Holi are the main festivals of the Hindus. I’d, Moharram, Bakr-I’d, Barawafat and Shab-e-Barat are the major Muslim festivals. New Years Day, Good-Friday, Easter and Christmas are the prominent festivals of the Christians. Buddha Purnima for Buddhists, Mahavir Jayanti for Jains, the birthday of Guru Nanak, Martyr’s day of Guru Teg Bahadur and Vaishakhi are the famous festivals of the people of Sikh faith.         About 2,250 fairs are held every year in Uttar Pradesh. The largest number of fairs are held in Mathura (86), followed by Kanpur and Hamirpur (79), Jhansi (78), Agra (72), and Fatehpur (70).  .     Kumbh Mela - At Haridwar     .     India has been attracting the whole world with her rich cultural heritages and spirituality. The renowned Kumbh Mela is a unique blend of all these. Haridwar Kumbh has its importance as the last Kumbh of this century. “The Kumbh and the Ardh Kumbh” fairs are held periodically, every twelve and six years in Haridwar where a large number of pilgrims and devotees get together to,commemorate the churning of the ocean by the Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) to obtain nector (Amrit).when the coveted Kumbh (jar) of nector was obtained one of the Devas stopped at four places viz. Haridwar, Prayag, Nasik and Ujjain before he finally arrived safely at heaven. A few drops of this nector is supposed to have spilled in the water in these four places. Sages, saints and pilgrims started periodically to flock to these Tirths to celebrate this divine event by taking dips in the holy rivers. It is an unique event that blends religious and social features of Indian society.           Back

Source: http://upgov.nic.in/upinfo/fandf.html

 

–
Thanks & Regards,

Ved Prakash Sinha
09334851615

For, Renown Advertising & Management Group
210-A, Ashiana Galaxy
Exhibition Road, Patna – 1 (BIHAR)
09334853329

www.renowngroup.co.cc
www.renownadvertising.blogspot.com : www.ruraladvertising.blogspot.com

vedprakash@renowngroup.co.cc  ;  advertising@renowngroup.co.cc