Beneshwar Fair

Beneshwar Fair is a five days fair starting from Shukla ekadeshi of Magh month of Hindu calendar. This is the unique and biggest tribal fair of the country attracting lakhs of devotees.

This fair is annually held in Dungarpur, Rajasthan. The name Beneshwar is derived from the holy Shiva Linga located in the Shiv temple in Dungarpur. ‘Beneshwar’ in the local language (Vagdi) means ‘master of delta.

The fair is organized at delta formed by rivers Mahi and Som. The fair continues till Shukla Purnima of Magh. Beneshwar is situated 24 kms. from Aspur in the district of Dungarpur.

The Beneshwar fair is infact the combination of two fairs. One fair is organized to pay tribute to the Lord Shiva, known as Beneshwar Mahadev.

And another fair is held to celebrate the finish of the construction work of the Vishnu temple by Jankunwar, the daughter-in-law of saint Mavji.

The priest or Mathadish arrives in a massive procession to the fair site from Sabha and take a dip into the river water. Then aarti of the Mathadish are performed and Raslila are reenacted during the night in the Lakshmi Narayana temple.

Bhils or tribal people from Dungarpur, Udaipur and Banswara constitute the major part of the gathering. The fair is very famous and is organized at very large level.

Legend

town named Beneshwar is so named because of the deity associated with place. The sacred Shiva Linga is located in Mahadev temple here. The lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Beneshwar Mahadev.

Shiva is also popularly known as Rudra or Mahesh and he is one of the Trimurti being other two deities Vishnu and Brahma. Brahma is seen as the creator, Vishnu as the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer.

Shiva is believed to have a third eye on his forehead which opens at the time when some destruction is needed to be done.

The devotees of Shiva are called Shaivas and the religious tradition is called Shaivism.

We usually see Shiva linga in temple instead of pictures of Shiva.

Whenever his pictures are seen, he is represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava.

Siva linga is considered the concentration of magnificent light and solidification in the upper part of the ling. The lower base of the structure represents the lamp and the upper section, the flame.

Jankunwari the daughter-in-law of Mavji, a highly reverted saint also an incarnation of Lord Vishnu built a temple of lord Vishnu. The day also marked the finishing day of the construction work.

It is believed that two of Mavji’s disciple Vaje and Aje, built the Lakshmi Narian temple near the meeting point of the two rivers Mahi and Som. The pran-pratishtha ceremony of the idols to the temple was performed on magh Shukla Ekadashi. Since then onwards a fair is organized every year to celebrate this auspicious event.

Rituals & Celebrations

Rituals

The large devotees that gathers here at the time of the fair pays reverence and offerings to all the deities in the temple. The priest or the Mathadish comes to the location of fair from Sabha along in a huge procession. A 16 cms. silver image of Mavji sitting on horseback is also brought here.


The Mathadish and the statue or image of Mavji is bathed into the river water. This river water is considered holier.


People considers auspicious to take bath in this holy water. They believe that taking a dip or two will purify them and all their sins will ward off. This will attain them salvation.Prayers are offered five times a day in the temples of Lakshmi-Narayana and Brahma. The temple of Baneshwar Mahadev remains open from 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. during the fair.

The Shiva linga is bathed then saffron is applied on the Shiva linga and incense sticks are lighted to make the whole environment fragrant.

The ash or babhut is applied on the linga and aarti is waved with clanging brass gong in the evening which is then followed by colourful celebrations. Devotees offer wheat flour, pulses, rice, jaggery, ghee, salt, chillies, coconut and cash.


Celebrations

All the tribal people, young or old, who come to attend the Baneshwar Fair sing traditional folk songs loudly sitting around a bonfire every night in high spirit. Groups of villagers are also invited to participate in the programme. The fair is coloured by the cheerfulness of songs, folk dances, magic shows, animal shows and acrobatic feats. The fair resonate with the gaiety of people coming there.

The local people also actively participate in various activities. The fun rides on merry-go-rounds and swings furthers the excitement.A temporary mini market is established in the mela place. Many useful items for household, traditional farming tools and fancy items come in these markets. The large number of shops in the fair proves a shopping paradise for both buyers and sellers.

How to reach

Beneshwar fair is held at the delta formed by the meeting of rivers Mahi and Som. The Beneshwar temple is located about one and a half km away from Nawa Tapra village.

Sabla is the nearest bus stand from Nawa Tapra village. The site is 6.5 kms from Sabla village on the Udaipur-Banswara-Dungarpur route. Sabla village is at a distance of 123 kms from Udaipur, 53 kms from Banswara, 45 kms from Dungarpur and 22 kms from Aspur. One can easily get bus for sabla village from above places.

One has to go Beneshwar from Sabla on foot or on private carts in normal days. However, there are special provisions organized by private and Rajasthan roadways buses during Beneshwar Fair.

Time to celebrate

The Beneshwar fair is celebrated for five days in January/Feburary. The fair starts from eleventh day of shukla paksh of Magh and conclude on the fifteenth day of the same. It is celebrated-

In 2010: 26-30 January, 2010

In 2011: 14-18 February, 2011

In 2012: 3-7 Feburary, 2012