The once local fair of Madhavpur has now become a national fair, showcasing the folk culture of different regions. The erstwhile local fair of Madhavpur has now become a national fair, a veritable symbol of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’, illustrating the religious-mythological significance.

Madhavpur is a confluence of culture and history of the eastern and western parts of the country and the fair of Madhavpur has become known on the national stage today. As this fair has got the form of a national fair, there are many spectacles along with religious ceremonies and cultural events. Dignitaries and guests from home and abroad are seen staying here. However, it would be interesting to know how this fair was held two and a half decades ago.

25 years ago this fair was organized at the local level with people’s cooperation. The occasion of the marriage of Lord Shri Krishna and Rukmaniji was celebrated with great fanfare. Devotees would spontaneously join the five-day event from Chaitra Sud Nom to Teras in large numbers and this gathering of people would become a ‘Mela’. In the fair of that time, two or four fajarfalkas, two or four small chakdols used to be used for entertainment. People used to rush to see the well of death. People flocked to the fair spontaneously and sellers of balloons, toys and various small and large items were also spontaneously spread out and sold here.

At that time, there was another attraction of tattooing in the fair. Young people used to write Om, Ram or other names on their hands, while girls and women used to get various tattoos on their hands, although today they are known as tattoos. Two and a half decades ago, technology and resources were limited, but people’s enthusiasm was sky high on the occasion of attending and witnessing God’s marriage. The temple was decorated, rangoli was done, most of the sisters dressed in traditional clothes and the men attended the wedding ceremony in Kathiawadi parivesh with safa.

At the temple of Madhavaraiji, a religious festival would start from Chaitrasud nom for thirteen days. Every night for three days from Noam, Bhagavan’s varnagi means swelling. In which young people came to Brahmakund playing raas, singing kirtan and performed kirtan in the square of Brahmakund. After that, the Lord used to return to his temple at night.

After 11 am on Baras day, Kadcha people from Kadcha village would come with horse carts to bring the goods of God. Then, on the day of Baras, people from Rukmaniji’s monastery used to come to Madhavarai temple riding camels and horses to invite the Lord. Meanwhile, Mohan came to the temple to play Madhuvan.. He sang wedding songs like that. In the afternoon, the chariot was driven through the main bazaar in the midst of the crowd of people, as if the Lord was defeating the enemies, and the chariot was moving from the mela road.

After that, the Lord was worshiped in the monastery considered to be Rukmaniji’s shrine, after which the bridegroom was brought to Chori-Mayra and the Kanyadan and Saptapadi ceremony took place. Then Shri Krishna and Rukmaniji sat in the temple for the whole night. On the following day, the newlyweds are decorated with gulal and later seated in a palanquin, accompanied by music and kirtan-singing in the Haveli procession, in which the bride and groom are escorted to the market in the village. Later both of them were worshiped in the temple. With this, the marriage of Shri Krishna and Rukmaniji was consummated.

Today the fair has become modern with time. Many stalls of handicraft artisans from different states of the country are set up in the fair with the support of the government, Awanvi rides, Fajr Phalka and Awanwa Chakdol as well as food and drink are enjoyed by the people, various colorful cultural programs are held at night during the fair. Dignitaries and guests from the Purvanchal i.e. states of the North East participate in the fair. Of course, the heart and essence of the Madhavpur fair is still intact. The rituals, rituals of Sri Krishna-Rukmaniji’s marriage are still performed in the mythological and traditional way, with the same faith and the fair is now a national fair and is attended by people from different states across the country. Thus, in true sense, this fair gives a feeling of India at its best.

Practice started to show the culture of Assam
A five-day Lok Mela has been organized from March 30 at Madhavpur in Porbandar. Then the teams presenting different works from the stage have reached Porbandar. In which Arunachal Pradesh and Assam team and three local teams are rehearsing at Sri Ratnasagar Hall. In the Madhavpur fair, two teams from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will be presented in traditional costumes to learn about the planting of agricultural crops and the events of harvesting the crops, and the songs sung to celebrate the arrival of new grain in the home and village, and the local people in the hills will be introduced to planting agriculture in the forest area.

Arrival of artists from north eastern states including Arunachal-Assam in Porbandar
Manav Juti Gai, who came with his group from Assam, said that we will present the folk song of Assam, Missing Gumraag, at the Yojnar Mela at Madhavpur. Rice is cultivated in Assam. This is a folk song about sowing the rice crop and harvesting the crop. This is a folk song depicting the farmers and laborers planting, harvesting and tending the crops. In which they present the work with dhol, manjira.

Started the practice of making Gujarat see the culture of Assam
Jessica Pegu from Arunachal Pradesh enthusiastically said that Gujarat government has got an opportunity to come to Madhavpur Mela by organizing such a program on a large scale. Our group will present two works which will show the production of hill farming by the local people in hilly areas, its knowledge of planting of agricultural crops, farmers and laborers cutting paddy by hand at the time of harvest with traditional dress through the medium of the work. will be done. Apart from this, after the second kriti is produced, the kriti will be presented in accordance with the occasion when the villagers celebrate the harvest festival in the hope that the new grain crops will come to the house and the village.