About Tarnetar Mela |
| Event | Tarnetar Mela |
| Location | Near Thangadh |
| State | Gujarat |
| Category | Festival |
| Date | Aug 26, 2025 |
| Main Attraction | The 'Swayamvar' among the tribal youth and the festivities are the main highlights of this fair. |
| Overview/History | The Tarnetar Mela or fair is held at Tarnetar, near the town of Thangadh, Gujarat. It takes place along with the festival at the Trineteshwar Temple, celebrating the wedding of Arjuna with Draupadi. The fair is held at the grounds of Triniteshwar Mahadev temple. The old temple was ruined, but a new one was built in the 19th century and is situated on the bank of a rivulet and opens into a beautiful reservoir. The Triniteshwar Mahadev Fair is commonly called as the Tarnetar Mela and is celebrated in the first week of 'Bhadrapad' (August-September) according to the Hindu calendar. The fair is a mixture of colors and lots of excitement. According to legend, the fair has been held here since ancient times and is linked with the tale of Draupadi's Swayamvar, where Arjuna executed the difficult task of piercing the eye of a rotating fish with an arrow, by looking at its reflection in the water and with this accomplishment he won her heart. But historically, the festival is assumed to have initiated about 200 to 250 years ago. |
| Celebration | The fair is a celebrated in a lively and colorful way. Ethnic Gujarati folk-dances, music, glittering ornaments and costumes all combine to create an impressive and exciting atmosphere. Dancers flow in waves of circular movement, with the constant beating of drums. Music continues throughout the day and dancers keep changing from one group to another. Different kinds of folk dances are performed during the festival and many 'Bhajan Mandlis' (religious music groups) sing songs accompanied by various folk instruments. A number of stalls are set up to sell local handicrafts, ethnic jewellery, figurine of deities and traditional attire embroidered with miniature mirrors. The fair also has amusement rides, magic shows, photo stalls and tattoo artists. The fair is based around young tribal men and women who are seeking suitable marriage partners. The young tribal men gracefully dress in colorful dhotis, waistcoats and eye-catching turbans waiting to be chosen by young village belles who are also dressed in fine colorful clothes. |
