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Fairs and Festivals of Chamba
Minjar Fair
- Meaning: Minjar means maize flowers.
- Timing: Celebrated on the second Sunday of the Sawan month, usually in August.
- Location: Held at Chaugan, Chamba.
- Duration: Lasts for a week.
- Rituals: Maize flowers, a coconut, a rupee or a small coin, a fruit, and a few paddy tentacles are offered to Varuna, the God of rain, in the river Ravi. A procession starts from “Akhand Chandi” palace and terminates at the Ravi river bank.
- History: The present form of the fair was first started by Raja Sahil Varman in the 10th century.
- Legend: It is said that the river Ravi once flowed through the area where the shrine of Rani Champavati and the Hari Rai temple stand. A sage used to swim across the river to visit the temple. Raja Sahil Varman arranged a week-long Yajana, and Lord Varuna was prayed to change the river’s course, which he did.
- Significance: The fair is also associated with the victory of Pratap Varman of Chamba against a Kangra ruler.
Bharmaur Jatra Fair
- Timing: Held in August in Chamba.
Chhattari Jatra Fair
- Timing: Held in September in Chamba.
Sui Fair
- Timing: Held in April in Chamba.
- Participants: Exclusively for women and children.
- Temple: There is a temple of Naina Devi, who was the queen of Raja Sahil Varman. The temple was constructed where she sacrificed herself to bring water to Chamba town on Shahmadar hill.
Trilokopur Fair (Phul Yatra of Pangi)
- Timing: Held at Killar in September-October every year.
- Significance: Marks the start of the closing season in this snow-bound valley. It is an annual feature that keeps the Pangwal community culturally united.
Chrewal Fair
- Also Known As: Prithvi Pooja.
- Timing: Celebrated on the first of Bhadon (mid-August) and continues for a full month.
- Practices: Farmers do not yoke oxen during this month.
- In Kullu: Known as Bhadranjo.
- In Chamba: Known as Pathroru, a festival of flowers.
