Shamlaji Fair

The Shamlaji Fair or the Kartik Purnima Fair is an annual affair, held during the month of November. The fair goes on for a fortnight.

Nearly 200,000 people of all communities and castes, including the Bhils and Garasias, visit this fair. Visitors come from all nearby districts and even from Rajasthan. The fair is very famous among the tribals of the area, particularly the Bhils, who worship Shamlaji, the deity they refer to as “Kalio Bavji”, the dark divinity.

A bath in the river Meshwo is considered as essential as a darshan of the idol in the temple.

Have you ever visited this fair?

I was fortunate enough to visit the Shamlaji Fair last year. This fair is organised in the Sabarkantha district and is a festive occasion where the adivasis gather in thousands. This November fair continues for two weeks and nearly 2,00,000 visitors of all castes and communities flock to this assembly. People from adjoining districts and even from Rajasthan come to this fair.

The eleventh century Shamlaji Temple is located near the site of the fair. This temple is dedicated to Vishnu. This temple is a renowned Vaishnav shrine and the idol established there is known as Shaksi Gopal or Gadadhar.

I was fortunate enough to visit the Shamlaji Fair last year. This fair is organised in the Sabarkantha district and is a festive occasion where the adivasis gather in thousands. This November fair continues for two weeks and nearly 2,00,000 visitors of all castes and communities flock to this assembly. People from adjoining districts and even from Rajasthan come to this fair.

The eleventh century Shamlaji Temple is located near the site of the fair. This temple is dedicated to Vishnu. This temple is a renowned Vaishnav shrine and the idol established there is known as Shaksi Gopal or Gadadhar.