Janmashtami celebrations officially began on Monday. While housewives were busy in their kitchen on Randhan Chhath, a day of cooking, traditional fairs kicked off in various parts of Saurashtra.
As many as 11 fairs are being held at various places across Saurashtra and Kutch regions. A rath yatra, celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, would also be carried out at four places in the region.
Janmashtami is the biggest festival in the region as traditionally it provides shopping opportunities to the people.
A fair is held at a taluka or the district headquarters where farmers, maldharis and village folk visit bigger towns to buy stuff and get entertained by drama, Bhawai, music and dance.
The flavour has changed a bit now. In its modern avatar, fun, food and cultural meetings take centre stage. However, at bigger places like Rajkot, it is still a business opportunity for traders. According to traders’ estimate, fairs in the region would easily generate business worth Rs35 crore a day.
Jamnagar
The city hosts two traditional fairs. One is held at the exhibition ground for the entire month of Shravan and the other is a four-day affair on the Rangmati riverbank. Both are organised by the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation. The two-decade-old traditional fairs attract around 2 lakh visitors.
The biggest attraction for villagers is shopping of toys and other items while city folks enjoy food and rides.
Bhuj
Bhuj has a tradition of holding a fair for just two days. It is organised on the periphery of Hamirsar Lake, in the heart of the historic city. Organised by Bhuj Nagarpalika for the last 50 years, it is a place where villagers buy things like hosiery and toys while it becomes a picnic spot for city residents.
Despite being small in terms of the number of stalls, the event is much awaited by the fun-loving residents of this border district.
Rajkot
The biggest city in Saurashtra and Kutch region boasts of five fairs four private and one organised by the district administration. The Lokmela, as it is known in this part of the world, will be a place for fun, entertainment and shopping. The Lokmela Samiti, headed by the district collector, has been organising the public fair since 1988.
Income from the fair is used in charitable and public works. This is one of the biggest shopping festivals for the people of
Rajkot.
An estimated 5 lakh people will visit the fair every day during Satam, Ashtami and Naum (seventh, eighth and ninth days of the Hindu calendar). It boosts the economy of the city as business worth Rs25 crore is transacted every day. “We are expecting some 15 lakh people to visit the fair this year. Good rainfall will ensure good business from rural crowds.
We have provided full security cover by deploying 700 personnel at the grounds while an insurance cover for Rs 4 crore has also been taken,” said district collector Rajinder Kumar.
Rajkot district
Apart from the district headquarters, four smaller fairs are held at Gondal, Jetpur, Dhoraji and Upleta. Each fair is organised either by the civic body or the district administration. Each fair has its own unique history, culture and tradition. However, the common thread for the event is people should be entertained and be able to shop.
These four fairs are a four-day event. Usually, with 80 stalls for food, toys and some rides, 25,000 people visit these fairs per day.
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