300:(a form of devotional drapery offering to the god) are offered. It is an occasion when the head of the state (now a governor) is normally present on the last day, joins the worship, and accompanies the pageant. During all these festivities, it is said that Rishi Kamru Nag (local god of rains), the presiding deity of the Maha Shivaratri, after paying his obeisance to Madho Rai, moves to the Tarna ma temple at the top of the Tarna hill from where he watches the proceedings of the fair for seven days. People from all walks of life and belonging to all strata of the society from adjoining areas come to visit this fair and to
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honour the ruler (the regent of the Lord Mado Rai). (It is said that Madho Rai comes out of his temple only once a year on the
Shivaratri day and leads the procession.). The ruler thereafter pay obeisance to Lord Shiva at the Bhootnath temple where the main festival of Shivaratri is held. The palanquins of the deities are swayed to the drum beats and folk music to indicate their happiness after visiting the temples of Vishnu and Shiva.
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theocratic state that evolved during this period, worship of Shiva and related goddesses was dominant. However, the theocratic nature of the state received special emphasis when, during Raja Suraj Sen’s reign, Vishnu worship also became integral to the State. Raja Suraj Sen (1664 to 1679), who did not have an heir, built the temple known as "Madhav Rai temple", dedicated to a form of
31:
171:. The festival’s popularity is widespread and hence is known as an international festival. In view of the large number of gods and goddesses that are invited to the festival from its 81 temples, Mandi town has the title of 'Varanasi of the Hills'. During 2016, the festival will be celebrated from 7 March (Shivaratri day) for seven days till 14 March 2016.
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of fanfare, is held in Paddal, a large open ground at the confluence of the Beas and Suketi rivers. Some 200 deities arrive from shrines around Mandi town and are assigned places at the Paddal grounds as per the pecking order, where the devotees offer worship to all the deities. The pageant is held every day of the festival.
296:("night vigil," a nightlong worship) is held. On this occasion, a guru and his disciple proclaim prophesies for the following year. On the last day of the festivities, prayers are chanted and, after paying obeisance to Lord Shiva, all the deities assembled in Mandi depart to their original abodes. On this occasion,
182:, popularly known as the "cathedral of temples", is one of the oldest towns of Himachal Pradesh with about 81 temples of different gods and goddesses in its periphery. There are several legends linked to the celebration of this event. The festival is centred on the protector deity of Mandi "Mado Rai" (
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that was buried at that site. Thereafter, the Raja found the Shiva Linga at the indicated location, which he deified in a temple that he erected in 1526, at the place it was found. He called it the "Bhootnath Temple" and started the observance of the
Shivaratri festival at Mandi. Concurrent with this
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However, the specific observance of this festival as a fair, starting with
Shivaratri, is linked to its ruler Ishwari Sen. Ishawri Sen was held a prisoner for 12 years after he lost his kingdom in the war waged by Sansar Chand of Punjab, in 1792. He was released by the Gurkha invaders who had invaded
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There is pecking order that is maintained in the sequence of worship by the deities invited to the fair, based on rank and status. The day after the
Shivaratri, on the second day of the fair, a pageant of gods with folk bands, dancers and devotees (all dressed in their colourful attire) and with lot
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was made by his goldsmith Bhima, in the year 1705, which was named "Madho Rai" and deified, and ordained as the King of the State of Mandi thereafter. Since then the rulers served the state as servants of Madho Rai and custodians of the State. Suraj Sen’s successors have also held the deity of the
228:
and Mandi states. Afterwards, the
Gurkhas' restored the Mandi state to Ishwari Sen. He was given a reception on the occasion of his return to Mandi, his state capital. On this occasion, the King invited all hill deities of the Kingdom and held a grand celebration, and this day happened to be the
264:
It is an accepted practice that every deity that is brought to the festival (decorated with glittering embroidered drapery) visits Madho Rai temple first to pay obeisance to Lord Vishnu and then proceed to the palace in a colourful procession called the Shoba Yatra, known locally as 'Zareb,' to
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in the sixteenth century, since he not only combined the hereditary regions but also added to it by conquering new areas. Apart from his palace, he built the temple of
Bhootnath (temple for Shiva) at the centre of the Mandi town, which is one of the two focal temples of the festival. In the
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A legend is told of the building of
Bhoothnath Temple. It is said that, in 1526, Raja Ajber Sen heard the story of a cow offering milk on her own volition to a particular stone in a forest in Mandi. Lord Shiva is said to have appeared in the Raja’s dream and directed him to extricate the
289:. It is said that the festivities promote handcrafted jewellery of the region. However, during the entire Mandi Shivaratri Fair, religiosity is the main theme. It is said that religious synthesis was achieved by combining the worship of Vishnu and Shiva cults during the seven-day fair.
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temple in great reverence. This god is represented with precedence over all other gods on various religious occasions. The theocratic nature of the people of the state is amply reflected during the popular "Mandi
Shivratri Fair", which is held every year with great fanfare.
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The fair is also an occasion when local traders and people carry out brisk trade in local products such as wool, opium, honey, walnut, ghee (butter oil), and general merchandise from the region of Kangra,
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carry their gods and goddesses by palanquins or on their back. However, some exceptions of carrying them in vehicles by some caste groups have been noted. Thereafter, the fair lasts for seven days.
315:, Shiva's mount, faces the deity from the ornamented double-arched entrance. The festival of Shivaratri is the prime event at this temple; the temple is the focal point of the seven day festival.
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The Mandi festival or fair is particularly famous as the special fair transforms Mandi town into a venue of grand celebration when all gods and goddesses, said to be more than 200 deities of the
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Shivratri festival day. Since then the practice of holding the Mandi fair during
Shivaratri has been observed every year at Mandi. In recent years, modernity has also set in with
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Bhootnath Temple, with an idol of a manifestation of god Shiva, an ancient temple dated to the 1520s, is synonymous with Mandi. It is in the heart of the town. The
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Mandi town, where the festival is held, was ruled by Raja Ajbar Sen who was considered the first great ruler of
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253:(chariots by people) to Mandi to pay homage to Madho Rai and the Raja. Members of caste denominations such as
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One day before the concluding day of the festival at the end of fanfare, music and dance, in the evening,
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13th day/13th night (breaking fast/'vrata' on 14th after sunrise) of the waning moon in the month of
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is an annual renowned international fair that is held for 7 days starting with the Hindu festival of
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The observance of the fair is marked on the
Shivaratri day when the village gods are carried in
364:. Kullu-Manali airport Bhuntar is the nearest airport, it is about 45 km from Mandi town.
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assemble here, starting with the day of Shivaratri. Mandi town located on the banks of the
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797:. My Himachal. 13 March 2008. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009
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and Shimla by narrow gauge train. It is connected to Chandigarh and
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544:. Himavani: A voice of Himachal Citizen initiative. Archived from
509:. Himachal Tourism, Government of Himachal Pradesh. Archived from
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44:
606:
Guide to trekking in Himachal: over 65 treks and 100 destinations
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727:. Himachal Tourism. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010
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event, the Raja shifted his capital from Bhiuli to Mandi.
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seek the blessings of Lord Shiva on this auspicious day.
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Traditional trade and trading centres in Himachal Pradesh
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795:"International Shivratri Fair concluded at Mandi"
745:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
381:Deities placed at Paddal, the venue of the fair
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668:. Light & Life Publishers. p. 116
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167:that corresponds to February/March as per
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155:The Mandi Shivaratri fair is held as per
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563:
542:"The Mysticism of Mandi's Mahashivratri"
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446:Quality of life in the Himalayan region
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332:Mandi town is accessible by road from
237:in the celebrations in the evenings.
73:About 200 deities gather for the fair
7:
348:. The nearest railway stations are
285:and from the neighbouring state of
233:artists performing at the fair at
14:
766:. Indus Publishing. p. 160.
609:. Indus Publishing. p. 177.
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693:. Indus Publishing. p. 99.
449:. Indus Publishing. p. 72.
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863:Festivals in the Hindu calendar
662:Charak, Sukh Dev Singh (1979).
573:. 10 April 2011. Archived from
16:Hindu fair celebrated in India
1:
1474:Festivals in Himachal Pradesh
643:. National Informatics Centre
421:. National Informatics Centre
1494:Religious festivals in India
481:"The International Festival"
690:Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
603:Chaudhry, Minakshi (2003).
571:"Mandi -The Seventh Heaven"
1510:
665:Himachal Pradesh, Volume 2
159:every year on the Krishna
1429:
1345:Shravana Putrada Ekadashi
815:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
28:
1174:Kashmiri Hindu festivals
1484:Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
1310:Pausha Putrada Ekadashi
760:Minhas, Poonam (1998).
687:Jreat, Manoj (2004).
103:Mandi Shivaratri Fair
24:Mandi Shivaratri Fair
443:Sharma, L.R (2005).
1330:Sankashti Chaturthi
1315:Prabodhini Ekadashi
1088:Sajibu Nongma Panba
908:Krishna Janmashtami
548:on 28 November 2009
328:Visitor information
128: /
35:Insignia of deities
1376:Balinese festivals
1355:Varuthini Ekadashi
1350:Vaikuntha Ekadashi
1295:Naraka Chaturdashi
1265:Ananta Chaturdashi
419:"History Of Mandi"
169:Gregorian calendar
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1305:Nirjala Ekadashi
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1255:Amalaka Ekadashi
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307:Bhootnath Temple
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41:Observed by
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1234:Vaikasi Visakam
1199:Panguni Uthiram
1164:Karthika Deepam
1154:Hanuman Jayanti
1117:Other festivals
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1048:Mesha Sankranti
1009:New year's days
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973:Makar Sankranti
968:Maghe Sankranti
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1179:Lakshmi Puja
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1214:Ratha-Yatra
1149:Gowri Habba
1144:Gaura Parva
1038:Cheti Chand
923:Rama Navami
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358:broad gauge
321:Shiva Linga
209:Lord Vishnu
204:Mandi State
184:Lord Vishnu
135: /
70:Observances
1458:Categories
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1184:Kumbh Mela
1043:Gudi Padwa
1028:Bisu Parba
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893:Durga Puja
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399:References
338:Chandigarh
247:palanquins
241:Observance
194:in Mandi.
188:Lord Shiva
180:Beas River
107:Shivaratri
63:Shivaratri
1243:Holy days
1194:Mahamaham
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1139:Dhanteras
1093:Sankranti
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928:Thaipusam
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998:Shakrain
811:cite web
741:cite web
283:Bilaspur
165:Phalguna
725:"Mandi"
641:"Fairs"
507:"Mandi"
368:Gallery
298:chadars
294:Jagaran
255:Brahmin
217:Krishna
198:History
190:of the
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988:Pongal
888:Diwali
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817:link
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