Phalguna Mela in Khatushyamji
Encyclopedia
The Phalguna Mela is the most important festival in Khatushyamji, in district Sikar
, Rajasthan
, India
. It occurs in the month of Phalguna
, Dashami to Dwadashi (= the 10th to 12th days), just 3–4 days before the great Indian festival Holi
. A large crowd visit here from across India to enjoy a sight of Baba Shyam's idol. Great singers from across all over the country come here to perform bhajan
s on this holy occasion.
It is said that Barbareek was a bachelor. On this holy occasion pilgrims all over the country come here on foot with nishaan
s (holy mark - flag
s) in their hands. People enjoy their holy journey by singing shyam
bhajan
s and playing various musical instruments. They enjoy the journey by playing holi with gulal. Many Shyam Bhaktas supply food to pedestrians in the shade of tents. They encourage also to complete their journey with full enthusiasm. They enjoy this occasion as the marriage of Khatushyamji. People enjoy the mela
by purchasing various things. On Dwadashi (= 12th day of month), Bhog
is being prepared as Baba's Prasadi of Kheer
, Churama.
Special arrangements for security are made to control the crowd. Around 500,000 people visit in three days of this holy mela in this small village. To briefly see Baba Shyam's idol, a very tight security is made with the help of bamboo
fence around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi).
In 2008, 1.5 million people visited the village on this occasion.
Sikar
Sikar is a city located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan state in India. It is the administrative headquarter of Sikar District. Sikar is a historical city and contains many old Havelis which are a huge tourist attraction. The best way to reach the city is to use road transport from Jaipur...
, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It occurs in the month of Phalguna
Phalguna
Phalguna is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phaalgun is the twelfth month of the year, beginning on 20 February and ending on 21 March .In lunar religious calendars, Phaalgun may begin on either the new moon or the full moon...
, Dashami to Dwadashi (= the 10th to 12th days), just 3–4 days before the great Indian festival Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
. A large crowd visit here from across India to enjoy a sight of Baba Shyam's idol. Great singers from across all over the country come here to perform bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
s on this holy occasion.
It is said that Barbareek was a bachelor. On this holy occasion pilgrims all over the country come here on foot with nishaan
Nishaan
For the 1983 film, see Nishaan.A Nishaan is the Ravidasi religious symbol, it is distinct from the Sikh Nishan Sahib. Strictly speaking "Nishaan" means "symbol" and is used in Ravidasi context to mean the mantras passed down by the Sants. There is some discussion going on amongst some Ravidasias...
s (holy mark - flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
s) in their hands. People enjoy their holy journey by singing shyam
Khatushyamji
In Hinduism, Khatushyamji is a name and manifestation of Barbarika, son of Ghatotkacha. This manifestation is especially popular in the Indian state of Rajasthan...
bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
s and playing various musical instruments. They enjoy the journey by playing holi with gulal. Many Shyam Bhaktas supply food to pedestrians in the shade of tents. They encourage also to complete their journey with full enthusiasm. They enjoy this occasion as the marriage of Khatushyamji. People enjoy the mela
Mela
Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a Fair. It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gathering and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sports. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance...
by purchasing various things. On Dwadashi (= 12th day of month), Bhog
Bhog
Bhog is a term used in Hinduism and Sikhism.-In Hinduism:Bhog in the Hindu religion is a ritual of sacrifice to the Gods.-In Sikhism:...
is being prepared as Baba's Prasadi of Kheer
Kheer
Kheer also known as Payasam or Payesh is a rice pudding, which is a traditional South Asian sweet dish...
, Churama.
Special arrangements for security are made to control the crowd. Around 500,000 people visit in three days of this holy mela in this small village. To briefly see Baba Shyam's idol, a very tight security is made with the help of bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
fence around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi).
In 2008, 1.5 million people visited the village on this occasion.