Bhavnath Mahashivratri Fair 2022 | Junagadh | Abhay Pandya | Ishan Pandya

Explore about Mahashivratri fair 2022

About Mahashivratri mela :

The highlights of the event are the multitudes of Nagas- the naked sadhus who are spiritual men who display incredible physical feats and sleight of hand at performances that last on all five days. The festival culminates on the Maha Shivaratri night as the Junagadh Shivratri Mela with ceremonies and grand processions. For both the tourist and the worshippers, the Mela is an incredible sight to behold as the deity’s energy surges through the thousands who participate.


When and where does the Junagadh Shivratri Mela 2021 take place?

The Bhavnath fair starts five days before the Maha Shivaratri festival every year. For the year 2021, the Maha Shivratri will be on Thursday, 11th March. The venue is the Bhavnath Mahadev temple, and the entry is open for all.

About the Junagadh Bhavnath Mandir :

The Bhavnath Mahadev temple is located at the base of Mount Girnar in the village of Bhavnath. The origin of the temple is shrouded in legends and mysteries that go back to the Puranic times. One of the popular beliefs surrounding the temple is that when Shiva and Parvati were travelling over the temple in their sky chariot, some of Parvati’s divine ornaments fell close to the temple earning it the name ‘Vastra Putakshetra.’ The temple is the place for two significant celebrations every year- The “Girnar Lili Parikrama” during the months of October and November and the Maha Shivratri during the months of February and March.

The Bhavanath Mela : The Bhavnath Mela is a five-day event that culminates on Maha Shivratri’s night with worshipping Lord Shiva. The Mela on the night of Shivratri consists of processions of sages decked up in ornaments and some seated on Elephants to the sound of rhythmic instruments such as tungis, conch shells, and turis. Scores of pilgrims, visitors, and tourists flock to watch the March as the size of the event is similar to the Kumbh Mela, except it takes place at night. The night’s highlight is the procession of the Nagas, where hundreds of naked Sadhus and Sadhvis march in the parades. Many show off feats of physical strength and endurance that seem supernatural even to the most sceptical observers. Towards the end of the processions is a holy bath of the sadhus in the Mrigi Kund within the compound of the temple.

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