Vautha Fair is Celebrated on Dev diwali full moon Night(Kartik Purnima) of Kartik Month and English Month of 28-29 November 2012 in Vautha Gujarat.
About Vautha Fair
Vautha Fair is the largest animal fair held in Gujarat, which involves wholesome trading of Camels, Donkeys and other animals. Held on the grounds of Sangam Tirtha, it is considered very auspicious and important by many communities.
For some people this fair is more important than Diwali also. Sangam is considered as holy as seven holy rivers mix waters here: the Vatrak merges with the Meshwo, Hathmati, Shedhi, Majum and Khari before it then meets the Sabarmati, so the locals call it saptasangam (meeting of seven).
For participation in the fair people are seen coming on trucks, tractors, camels, jeeps and other wide ranging means of transport. The animals bought for trading are beautifully decorated, ornamented and cleaned to look at their best.
This fair is held every year at Vautha, where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak meet. Vautha fair site is also known as Saptasangam as it is at the confluence of seven rivers. Legends specify that Lord Kartik or Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, visited the site. Kartik, popularly known as Muruga, is the commander of the army of the Devas. The fair is dedicated to Kartikeya and is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the Gujarati month of Kartik (October – November). The most important Shiva temple here is the temple of Siddhanath.
History of Vautha Fair
The Vautha Fair is the very big Animals fair held in Gujarat,india. which was involve wholesome some trading of the Camels or Donkeys and other animals.this festival grounds of Sangam Tirth.so it is considere by very auspicious or important by many communities. vautha fair festival to celebrated on the month Kartik of Hindu calendar. which falls on the November month and continues for 5 days.The Vautha ka Mela takes place near the confluence of seven rivers. The mela or fair is an important contributor to the rural economy of Gujarat. The fair is named after Vautha where the rivers Vatrak and Sabarmati meet.the fair holds of mythological as well as economical in importance to the state. The vautha fair grounds spread across 3 or 4 square miles of land. It is believed by the locals that Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva had visited the place. This incident gave rise to the festivities of the mela. This place is the homeland of Saptarshi (Seven Sages). It is regarded as an auspicious spot with legendary significance.This place is the homeland of Saptarshi (Seven Sages). It is regarded as an auspicious spot with legendary significance
According to the Hindu mythology, Kartikeya the son of Lord Shiva visited this place on the full moon night of Kartik (Kartik Purnima). Kartikeya was on a trip covering the entire earth. It was on Kartik Purnima that he stopped at this culmination of rivers and performed some austerities. Also the city of Dholka in the Ahmedabad district is considered to be the‘Virata Nagar’ of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise.
Celebration Vautha Fair
Vautha Fair is Large Celebration in Vautha Gujarat on Dev Diwali.Thousands of people and visitors visit Sangam during the month of kartik and especially during the Vautha Fair. The most important religious act performed by numerous devoteescoming here is the purifying bath on the Sangam tirtha which is supposed to be reliever of all past sins.
All people from nearby villages and districts lock their houses and come to attend the fair which lasts for about five days. A number of tents are erected that are used by visitors of the fair to accommodate. Nearly 25,000 people house in about 2000 tents every year and enjoy the grand spectacle of the Vautha fair.
Visitors are seen preparing elaborate sweets and food dishes throughout the five days of fair. The fair generally ends with the preparation of Ladoos and the most popular and appreciated dishes are khichu and kachariyu.
One of the most significant features of the fair is the trading of animals. Numbers of merchants are seen selling a wide variety of products right from trinkets to machinery. In the evenings, numerous small lamps are set afloat in the river by devout pilgrims, producing a shimmering dance of faith and beauty.
