List of fairs and festivals in Punjab, India

2021-10-13T20:41:00Z

2600:1700:D561:D70:5DCB:77BF:8C3F:6FBF: /* Basant Festival of Kites */104th next year.

{{short description|Wikimedia list article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
[[File:Kothe-da-mela.jpg|thumb|mela]]
[[File:Group of Nihang Singhs.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A group of [[Nihang]]s who are the chief guests at Maghi mela]]
The Punjab has many fairs and festivals which are organised throughout the year. The following are some such fairs and festivals:<ref name="autogenerated1">Know your State Punjab by Gurkirat Singh and Anil Mittal {{ISBN|978-93-5094-755-5}}</ref>

==Fairs==

===Baba Sodal mela===
A large Hindu fair is held in Jalandhar city. The fair of Baba Sodal is associated with a small boy named Sodal, who is respected as a child-god. The fair commemorates his death anniversary.<ref>Punjab District Gazetteers: Jalandhar. Supplement (1996) [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8TRuAAAAMAAJ&q=baba+sodal+jalandhar&dq=baba+sodal+jalandhar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjCk7bQuLDdAhXLC8AKHYZVCGYQ6AEIKjAA]</ref> The fair is held annually during September.<ref>Puneet Aneja (2013) Administrative Aspects of Tourism: A Case Study of Punja. Unistar books [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rrP4DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA191&dq=baba+sodal+jalandhar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjCk7bQuLDdAhXLC8AKHYZVCGYQ6AEINTAC#v=onepage&q=baba%20sodal%20jalandhar&f=false]</ref>

===Rauza Sharif Urs===
Rauza Sharif Urs<ref name="autogenerated1"/> is celebrated in the memory of Sufi Saint Sheikh Ahmed Farooqi Sirhindi who was a disciple of Khawaja Baqi Billah. The fair takes place on the Fategarh Sahib-Bassi Pathan road in [[Fatehgarh Sahib]].<ref>[http://www.kamalkapoor.com/muslim-fair-festivals/rauza-sharif-urs.asp Kamal Kapoor.com]</ref>

===Jor Mela===
[[File:Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Punjab, India.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Punjab]]
Annual three-day [[Shaheedi Jor Mela]] is held at [[Fatehgarh Sahib]] Gurdwara in memory of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. Processions are taken out and Sikh games are displayed in the three-day Mela.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/JOR-MELA/speednewsbytopic/keyid-509051.cms Times of India by Parvesh Kumar Sharma]</ref>

===Roshni Da mela===
A famous "Roshni Mela" (festival of lights) is held in Jagraon. The fair is held at the mazar of Peer Baba Mohkumdeen and lasts for three days. Thousands of people from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and other neighbouring states visit the place, light an earthen lamp at the mazar and pray. [[Roshni mela|Roshni Da Mela Jagraon]]

===[[Bathinda]] Virasat Mela===
The mela showcases traditional Punjabi culture at the Jaipal Theme Village inside the Bathinda Sports Stadium.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> The mela also involves heritage walks from Gurdwara Haji Rattan to Jaipalgarh theme village.<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/bathinda/virasat-mela-day-two/article1-963474.aspx Hindustan Times 23 11 2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216100810/http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/bathinda/virasat-mela-day-two/article1-963474.aspx |date=2014-12-16 }}</ref>

===Vaisakhi===
Local fairs are organised in various places in Punjab on [[Vaisakhi]].<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Mela Maghi===
The [[Mela Maghi]] held at Muktsar lasts for three days.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman===
Baba Farid, a 12th-century Sufi Saint, visited [[Faridkot, Punjab|Faridkot]], named after him. The fair takes place at Gurdwara Tilla Baba Farid and includes cultural and sporting events.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

The mela takes place every year between 19 September and 23 September, Evolving from its spiritual origin associated with the visit of Sufi Prophet, the festival has now become all pervasive embracing cultural, literary, intellectual and sports spheres of the people of this region. In the true Sufi tradition of its founder saint, the festival has inherited the gospel of Humanism, Communal Harmony and National Integration is the conspicuous theme of the Aagman Purb.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://faridkot.gov.in/mela.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716004357/http://faridkot.gov.in/mela.html |archive-date=16 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Basant Festival of Kites===
[[File:Kite Festival in India.jpg|thumb|Kites]]
Local fairs are held in various places on [[Basant Kite Festival (Punjab)|Basant]]. The ruler of [[Kapurthala]] princely state, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, started the Basant Panchami fair which will be in its 104th (2022). People attend the fair at Shalamar Bagh wearing yellow clothes and turbans.<ref name="tribuneindia1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100121/jal.htm#1 |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jalandhar Edition |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref>
In [[Hoshiarpur]], a fair is held at the Boeli of Baba Bhandari where thousands of men, women and children participated and pay obeisance at the samadhi of martyr Dharamvir Hakikat Rai.<ref name="tribuneindia1"/> Basant in the [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] is associated with Hakikat Rai who laid down his life to fight for the right of people to follow their religion of choice.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> At the fair held at the Boeli of Baba Bhandari, it is customary to hold kite flying competitions.

==Festivals==

===Kila Raipur Sports Festival===
In February every year, the [[Kila Raipur Sports Festival]] takes place showcasing bullock, dog, mules, camel and other animal races.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Patiala Heritage festival===
Started in 2003, the festival takes place in [[Patiala]] in the Qila Mubarak Complex, which lasts for ten days. The festival includes the Crafts Mela, Indian classical music (vocal and instrumental) and dance <ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Kapurthala Heritage Festival===
The Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Heritage Festival is held by the [[Kapurthala]] Heritage Trust, in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage and supported by the Government of Punjab. The festival takes place at Jagatjit Palace and centres on classical music, dance and theatre.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web |url=http://www.intach.org/events-hf-past.asp?links=events5 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111022038/http://intach.org/events-hf-past.asp?links=events5 |archive-date=2014-11-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kapurthala.net.in/index.php?action=culture |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707172030/http://www.kapurthala.net.in/index.php?action=culture |archive-date=2014-07-07 }}</ref>

===Amritsar Ambarsar Heritage Festival===
The festival showcases bhangra, giddha, gatka troupes, horses and elephants. The cultural programmes include shabad kirtan, theatre, music and dance.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="autogenerated3"/><ref>[http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/poor-turnout-at-amritsar-heritage-festival/752631/ Indian Express by Dharmendra Rataul 21 02 2011]</ref>

===Harivallabh Sangeet Festival===
Taking place every year on 27–30 December, the music festival honors the memory of Swami Harivallabh.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> The festival is recognised by the Government of India as a National festival of music.<ref>http://www.harballabh.org/</ref> Harivallabh shall complete 139 Years on 28 December 2014. The festival is held at the Devi Talab Mandir in Jalandhar city<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jalandhar/harivallabh-sangeet-sammelan-to-commence-from-december-28/article1-979805.aspx Hindustan Times 23 12 2013] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216100817/http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/jalandhar/harivallabh-sangeet-sammelan-to-commence-from-december-28/article1-979805.aspx |date=2014-12-16 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Punjab, India}}
{{Punjabi festivals}}
[[Roshni mela]]
[[Category:Festivals in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Punjabi festivals]]
[[Category:Lists of festivals in India|Punjab]]
[[Category:Lists of fairs|Punjab]]
[[Category:Punjab, India-related lists|Fairs and festivals]]

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List of fairs and festivals in Punjab, India