Trinetreshwar Temple, Tarnetar – Tarnetar Fair

Trinetreshwar Temple, Tarnetar – Tarnetar Fair

Tarnetar Fair is famously called as Tarnetar no Melo / Trinetreshwar Mahadev Mela. It is held annually near the Trinetreshwar Mahadev temple. This fair is considered as one of the most popular religious festival of Gujarat. The fair is believed to have started sometime 200 or 250 years ago. As per legend, the temple is believed to be the site where Arjun won the hand of Draupadi in an archery contest during the Swayamvara of Draupadi and Panchal region (current Tarnetar surroundings) is considered as the native of Draupadi.

The tradition has been carried on in this region where unmarried tribal men and women gather at the fair to find match for them. The fair is held on 4^th, 5^th and 6^th day of Shukla Paksha of Bhadra Month every year. The fair is initiated with the hoisting of a huge Flag on the dome of the Trinetreshwar Temple. The flag is hoisted every year only by the Mahant of Paliyad, a small village near Tarnetar. This tradition has been followed ever since Mahant Visaman Bapu who was born in Paliyad started the Sadavrat at Paliyad and hoisted the first flag at the Tarnetar Temple.

On Bhadarva Sud 4 (Ganesh Chaturthi) the flag is carried in a procession headed by the Mahant from the office of Tourism of Gujarat to the Trinetreshwar Temple. It is then unfurled to symbolize the commencement of the colourful festival. The fair is celebrated with Gujarat’s folk-dance, music and arts and even for those who are not interested in finding a spouse. During this fair numerous stalls are put up that that includes the selling of local and traditional beautiful handicrafts along with ethnic jewelry, traditional mirror work and statues of deities. Every year more than 50,000 to 60,000 people attend the festival.