Mandi Shivaratri Fair
mandi shivaratri fair annual renowned international fair held day starting hindu festival shivaratri mandi town °n °e﻿ indian state himachal pradesh mandi shivaratri fair held per hindu calendar every year krishna paksha th dayth night breaking fastvrata th sunrise waning moon month phalguna corresponds februarymarch per gregorian calendar festival’s popularity widespread hence known international festival view large number god goddess invited festival temple mandi town title varanasi hill festival celebrated march shivaratri day seven day till march mandi festival fair particularly famous special fair transforms mandi town venue grand celebration god goddess said deity mandi district assemble starting day shivaratri mandi town located bank beas river popularly known cathedral temple one oldest town himachal pradesh temple different god goddess periphery several legend linked celebration event festival centred protector deity mandi mado rai lord vishnu lord shiva bhootnath temple mandi mandi town festival held ruled raja ajbar sen considered first great ruler mandi state sixteenth century since combined hereditary region also added conquering new area apart palace built temple bhootnath temple shiva centre mandi town one two focal temple festival theocratic state evolved period worship shiva related goddess dominant however theocratic nature state received special emphasis raja suraj sen’s reign vishnu worship also became integral state raja suraj sen heir built temple known madhav rai temple dedicated form lord vishnu protector mandi elegant silver image radha krishna made goldsmith bhima year named madho rai deified ordained king state mandi thereafter since ruler served state servant madho rai custodian state suraj sen’s successor also held deity temple great reverence god represented precedence god various religious occasion theocratic nature people state amply reflected popular mandi shivratri fair held every year great fanfare however specific observance festival fair starting shivaratri linked ruler ishwari sen ishawri sen held prisoner year lost kingdom war waged sansar chand punjab released gurkha invader invaded kangra mandi state afterwards gurkha restored mandi state ishwari sen given reception occasion return mandi state capital occasion king invited hill deity kingdom held grand celebration day happened shivratri festival day since practice holding mandi fair shivaratri observed every year mandi recent year modernity also set bollywood artist performing fair paddal celebration evening observance fair marked shivaratri day village god carried palanquin rathas chariot people mandi pay homage madho rai raja member caste denomination brahmin kshatriya carry god goddess palanquin back however exception carrying vehicle caste group noted thereafter fair last seven day accepted practice every deity brought festival decorated glittering embroidered drapery visit madho rai temple first pay obeisance lord vishnu proceed palace colourful procession called shoba yatra known locally zareb honour ruler regent lord mado rai said madho rai come temple year shivaratri day lead procession ruler thereafter pay obeisance lord shiva bhootnath temple main festival shivaratri held palanquin deity swayed drum beat folk music indicate happiness visiting temple vishnu shiva pecking order maintained sequence worship deity invited fair based rank status day shivaratri second day fair pageant god folk band dancer devotee dressed colourful attire lot fanfare held paddal large open ground confluence beas suketi river deity arrive shrine around mandi town assigned place paddal ground per pecking order devotee offer worship deity pageant held every day festival fair also occasion local trader people carry brisk trade local product wool opium honey walnut ghee butter oil general merchandise region kangra kullu shimla bilaspur neighbouring state punjab said festivity promote handcrafted jewellery region however entire mandi shivaratri fair religiosity main theme said religious synthesis achieved combining worship vishnu shiva cult sevenday fair one day concluding day festival end fanfare music dance evening jagaran night vigil nightlong worship held occasion guru disciple proclaim prophesies following year last day festivity prayer chanted paying obeisance lord shiva deity assembled mandi depart original abode occasion chadar form devotional drapery offering god offered occasion head state governor normally present last day join worship accompanies pageant festivity said rishi kamru nag local god rain presiding deity maha shivaratri paying obeisance madho rai move tarna temple top tarna hill watch proceeding fair seven day people walk life belonging stratum society adjoining area come visit fair seek blessing lord shiva auspicious day bhootnath temple bhootnath temple idol manifestation god shiva ancient temple dated synonymous mandi heart town nandi shiva mount face deity ornamented doublearched entrance festival shivaratri prime event temple temple focal point seven day festival legend told building bhoothnath temple said raja ajber sen heard story cow offering milk volition particular stone forest mandi lord shiva said appeared raja’s dream directed extricate shiva linga buried site thereafter raja found shiva linga indicated location deified temple erected place found called bhootnath temple started observance shivaratri festival mandi concurrent event raja shifted capital bhiuli mandi mandi town accessible road shimla chandigarh pathankot delhi nearest railway station joginder nagar shimla narrow gauge train connected chandigarh kalka broad gauge line indian railway kullumanali airport bhuntar nearest airport km mandi town