Mahaveerji Fair, Rajasthan - महावीरजी साफ
Among the myriad fairs and festivals of Rajasthan, the Mahavirji Fair has earned a special place of pride. Organized in Chandan Gaon, situated at a distance of about 176 kms from Jaipur, Mahavirji Fair, Mahavirji is held in the honor of the 24th Jain tirthankaras, Shri Mahavir Swami. The fair generates a lot of interest among the Jain population who participate in the event with a lot of enthusiasm. A majority of those who come visiting the fair, are the devout followers of Mahavir Swami and belong to the Digambar sect of the Jain. The Mahavirji Temple is the site where the fair is held every year. The temple is positioned within an enclosure locally called the "katala". The temple is consecrated to Mahavir Swami. If the popular belief is to be given any credence, this particular image of Mahavir Swami was unearthed by a leather worker from the nearby hillock.
Mahavirji Fair in Mahavirji takes place during the period between Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi and Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya. It is roughly sometime around the months of March and April. The Mahavirji Fair, Mahavirji reaches its acme on Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya. The pilgrims gather at the temple to meditate and seek the blessings of the saint. The image of Mahavirji is cleansed early in the morning. This cleansing ritual is called 'prakshalan'. The ritual of ablution is followed by worship and the ashta argha which refers to the eight kinds of offerings that are made.
Evening is the time for the aarti when the temple complex is lit with thousands of diyas. The religious offerings comprise of rice, yellow and white flowers, camphor, sandalwood, saffron, crystallized sugar and dry fruits. One of the major draw of the Mahavirji Fair in Mahavirji is "Rath Yatra". The procession is impressive in its grandeur. During the procession the image of Mahavirji is transported to the Gambhiri River Bank. The chariot is a golden one and is pulled by the bullocks. The devotees engage in singing devotional hymns in praise of Mahavir Swami.
The procession terminates at the temple where the image of Mahavirji is restored to its original position. The assemblage of such a huge number of people offers a good business opportunity. The village traders, in expectation of a considerable profit, set up shops selling food grains, cloth, toys and other merchandises. Another major highlight of Mahavirji Fair is the plays that are staged by the Jain students. The merry go rounds and the circus shows contribute to the fun element of the fair.
Mahavirji Fair in Mahavirji takes place during the period between Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi and Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya. It is roughly sometime around the months of March and April. The Mahavirji Fair, Mahavirji reaches its acme on Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya. The pilgrims gather at the temple to meditate and seek the blessings of the saint. The image of Mahavirji is cleansed early in the morning. This cleansing ritual is called 'prakshalan'. The ritual of ablution is followed by worship and the ashta argha which refers to the eight kinds of offerings that are made.
Evening is the time for the aarti when the temple complex is lit with thousands of diyas. The religious offerings comprise of rice, yellow and white flowers, camphor, sandalwood, saffron, crystallized sugar and dry fruits. One of the major draw of the Mahavirji Fair in Mahavirji is "Rath Yatra". The procession is impressive in its grandeur. During the procession the image of Mahavirji is transported to the Gambhiri River Bank. The chariot is a golden one and is pulled by the bullocks. The devotees engage in singing devotional hymns in praise of Mahavir Swami.
The procession terminates at the temple where the image of Mahavirji is restored to its original position. The assemblage of such a huge number of people offers a good business opportunity. The village traders, in expectation of a considerable profit, set up shops selling food grains, cloth, toys and other merchandises. Another major highlight of Mahavirji Fair is the plays that are staged by the Jain students. The merry go rounds and the circus shows contribute to the fun element of the fair.