List of fairs and festivals in Punjab, India

The Punjab has many fairs and festivals which are organised throughout the year. The following are some such fairs and festivals:[1]

mela
A group of Nihangs who are the chief guests at Maghi mela

Fairs

Baba Sodal mela

A large Hindu fair is held in Jalandhar city. The fair of Baba Sodal is associated with a small boy named Sodal, who is respected as a child-god. The fair commemorates his death anniversary.[2] The fair is held annually during September.[3]

Rauza Sharif Urs

Rauza Sharif Urs[1] is celebrated in the memory of Sufi Saint Sheikh Ahmed Farooqi Sirhindi who was a disciple of Khawaja Baqi Billah. The fair takes place on the Fategarh Sahib-Bassi Pathan road in Fatehgarh Sahib.[4]

Jor Mela
Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Punjab

Annual three-day Shaheedi Jor Mela is held at Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara in memory of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. Processions are taken out and Sikh games are displayed in the three-day Mela.[1][5]

Roshni Da mela

A famous "Roshni Mela" (festival of lights) is held in Jagraon. The fair is held at the mazar of Peer Baba Mohkumdeen and lasts for three days. Thousands of people from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and other neighbouring states visit the place, light an earthen lamp at the mazar and pray. Roshni Da Mela Jagraon

Bathinda Virasat Mela

The mela showcases traditional Punjabi culture at the Jaipal Theme Village inside the Bathinda Sports Stadium.[1] The mela also involves heritage walks from Gurdwara Haji Rattan to Jaipalgarh theme village.[6]

Vaisakhi

Local fairs are organised in various places in Punjab on Vaisakhi.[1]

Mela Maghi

The Mela Maghi held at Muktsar lasts for three days.[1]

Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman

Baba Farid, a 12th-century Sufi Saint, visited Faridkot, named after him. The fair takes place at Gurdwara Tilla Baba Farid and includes cultural and sporting events.[1]

The mela takes place every year between 19 September and 23 September, Evolving from its spiritual origin associated with the visit of Sufi Prophet, the festival has now become all pervasive embracing cultural, literary, intellectual and sports spheres of the people of this region. In the true Sufi tradition of its founder saint, the festival has inherited the gospel of Humanism, Communal Harmony and National Integration is the conspicuous theme of the Aagman Purb.[7]

Basant Festival of Kites
Kites

Local fairs are held in various places on Basant. The ruler of Kapurthala princely state, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, started the Basant Panchami fair which is now in its 103rd (2020). People attend the fair at Shalamar Bagh wearing yellow clothes and turbans.[8] In Hoshiarpur, a fair is held at the Boeli of Baba Bhandari where thousands of men, women and children participated and pay obeisance at the samadhi of martyr Dharamvir Hakikat Rai.[8] Basant in the Punjab is associated with Hakikat Rai who laid down his life to fight for the right of people to follow their religion of choice.[1] At the fair held at the Boeli of Baba Bhandari, it is customary to hold kite flying competitions.

Festivals

Kila Raipur Sports Festival

In February every year, the Kila Raipur Sports Festival takes place showcasing bullock, dog, mules, camel and other animal races.[1]

Patiala Heritage festival

Started in 2003, the festival takes place in Patiala in the Qila Mubarak Complex, which lasts for ten days. The festival includes the Crafts Mela, Indian classical music (vocal and instrumental) and dance concerts.[1]

Kapurthala Heritage Festival

The Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Heritage Festival is held by the Kapurthala Heritage Trust, in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage and supported by the Government of Punjab. The festival takes place at Jagatjit Palace and centres on classical music, dance and theatre.[1][9][10]

Amritsar Heritage Festival

The festival showcases bhangra, giddha, gatka troupes, horses and elephants. The cultural programmes include shabad kirtan, theatre, music and dance.[1][9][11]

Harivallabh Sangeet Festival

Taking place every year on 27–30 December, the music festival honors the memory of Swami Harivallabh.[1] The festival is recognised by the Government of India as a National festival of music.[12] Harivallabh shall complete 139 Years on 28 December 2014. The festival is held at the Devi Talab Mandir in Jalandhar city[13]

References
  1. Know your State Punjab by Gurkirat Singh and Anil Mittal ISBN 978-93-5094-755-5
  2. Punjab District Gazetteers: Jalandhar. Supplement (1996)
  3. Puneet Aneja (2013) Administrative Aspects of Tourism: A Case Study of Punja. Unistar books
  4. Kamal Kapoor.com
  5. Times of India by Parvesh Kumar Sharma
  6. Hindustand Times 23 11 2012 Archived 2014-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jalandhar Edition". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. Indian Express by Dharmendra Rataul 21 02 2011
  12. http://www.harballabh.org/
  13. Hindustan Times 23 12 2013 Archived 2014-12-16 at the Wayback Machine

Roshni mela

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