Shamlaji Fair 2016

Shamlaji fair takes place in a small town, Shamlaji, in Gujarat. Shamlaji fair is also known as the Kartik Poornima fair, as it is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Kartik.  The Shamlaji Temple is a renowned Vaishnav Shrine and the deity housed here is known by various names included Gadadhar (bearer of the mace) and Shaksi Gopal. The temple is of great archaeological significance as it was built in the 11th century.

Devotees belonging to various castes and communities including the Garasias and Bhils throng this festival. Apart from a darshan of the deity in the temple, the pilgrims consider a bath in the river Meshwo essential. These pilgrims come in groups, singing devotional songs and carry religious banners to have an audience of the deity at the Shamlaji Temple. The fair is also popular with the Bhil tribes, who have great reverence for Shamlaji, referred as ‘Kalio Bavji’ - the dark divinity. The Shamlaji mela is famous for the bath in the Nagdhara kund and the centuries old traditions.

One can easily reach the venue of the fair as it is well connected to all the major cities of Gujarat, by road.

2016 Dates : November 11th to 14th.