Welcome to Varanasi Festivals (melas)

Melas

Navaratari Mela
Ramnavami Mela
Gazi Miyan Mela -Saptami Mela
Ganga Dashara Mela
Nirjala Ekadashi Mela
Asnan Jatara Mela
Rath-Jatra Mela
Sankuldhara Mela
Briddhkal Mela
Durga Mela
Nag-Panchami Mela
Kajari Mela
Lolarik Chhath Mela
Ram Lila Mela
Dhan Teras Mela
Diwali Mela
Kartika Purnima Mela
Panchkroshi Mela
Lota-Bhanta Mela
Ganesh Chauth Mela
Shiv-Ratarti Mela
Bhurawa-Mangal Mela

Fairs and Festivals of Varanasi Varanasi is a city of about four hundred Fairs and festivals. It is being said that in seven days of a weeks Varanasi observe nine festivals. Each day that drawn in Varanasi observes a fair or Festival, many off which are either exclusive to it or celebrated in a distinctive local style of its own.

NAVRATRI MELA
Held at Durga Kund during the first nine days of the month of Chaitra. Hindus visit the Temple of Durga Kund from about 3'0 clock in the morning. On the 7th and 8th days of the crowd of votaries increase to upwards of ten thousands. At this Festival thousands of sheep's and Goats are offered in sacrifice. The worshippers visit not only the Shrine but also the Temple's of Annapurna, Sankata and Bageshwari

RAMNAVAMI MELA
Held at the Ram Ghat, on the 9th day of Chaitra in the early morning people of Hindu religion take bath together at the Ghat, and Worships Ram in the neighboring Temple

GAZI MIYAN MELA
Held at the Gazi Miyan Dargah, Bakaria Kund, on the First Sunday in Month of Jyestha. This is the Muslim community Festival Celebrated in Honor of the Nephew of the celebrated Mahmood of Gazni

GANGA-SAPTAMI MELA
Held on the Banks of the Ganges; on the 7th day of Jyestha .this day is regarded, by Hindus, as the Birthday of the Goddess of Ganges, who is said to have sprang out of the thigh of Jahnu Rishi. Formally, the idol representing the Goddess was simply worshipped; but, of the late years, a mela has held, accompanied with the nach or dancing. At night thousands of people assemble to take in the festivities.

GANGA DASHARA MELA
Held on the banks of the Ganges, on the 10th day of Jyestha, light fortnight; on which day the birth of the River Ganga or Ganges is believed to have occurred. Hindus both male and female, bath in the River, and gives alms to the Brahmans. a curious prevails amongst the young Girls of the Middle classes , who, on this day, float their Gudiyas or Dolls on the River, and for the next four months , refrain , not only from amusing themselves with them selves with , them but also from the use of all playthings

ASNAN JATRA MELA
Held at the Assi Ghat, at the Temple of Jaganath on the 15th day of Jyestha. The image of Jaganath is bathed on this day, and toward evening is exhibited to his votaries, on the terrace of the Temple. This mela is less frequented than in former times

RATH-JATRA MELA
Held in the garden of Pandit Beni Ram, on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days of Asarh. the idol of Jaganath is Brought out of the Temple at Assi Ghat and placed or car , - a particular Vehicle with a large number of wheels ,-for three successive days , in imitation of the grand festival that take palace at the Temple of Jaganath , in Orissa. Throngs of people of all classes attend this mela; and on the third day as many as thirty Thousands persons are Supported to be present

SANKULDHARA MELA
Held at the sankuldhara Tank, which is also called the Dwaraka- tirth or place of pilgrimage. According to the Kashi Khanda, it is esteemed a sacred act to bathe in this tank on this day. Formerly the native Aristocracy used to assemble here in the garden of Champat Rai Amin, in order to witness the dancing; but this custom seems to have been discontinued. Indeed the Mela it self is now in a state of Decline

BRIDDHAKAL MELA
Held in the Briddhakal Mohhala or Ward, near the Temple of the same name, every Sunday in the Month of Sawan. It is said that Dhanwantary, a Great Hindu Physician of antiquity, threw his medicine beg into the spring, hence the healing Virtues which is believed to have acquired. The water is used by the natives both for bathing and drinking, as remedy for disease of all kinds, but especially for those affecting the Skin. Near the well is a reservoir a few feet deep of Dirty a refuse water called Amrit kund or well of immorality. This also held to be of Great Virtue in removing continuous disease of contagious character and like wise Leprosy. Sick persons, first of all bathe in the filthy water of this reservoir and after wards washes their bodies with the water of well

DURGA MELA
Held at Durga Kund or tank, every Tuesday in Sawan. Durga Kund and the Temple being in the Suburbs of the city, with many Spacious gardens in their vicinity, the people avail themselves of this Fair, which occurs at the commenencment of the rainy Season, to visit the gardens and enjoy themselves. Upwards of Thirty Thousand persons are present on the last Tuesday of the Month

NAG-PANCHAMI MELA
Held at Nag kuan or serpent's as well, on the Fifth days of the sawan, this well is Spoken of, in Hindus writings, as karkotak Nag Tirtha or place of pilgrimage Hindus of all ranks, and of both sexes, attend the mela and bathe in the Well, returning quickly to their homes; and only persons of loose character prolong their stay. It is common to purchase idols representing this deity, and to carry them home for worship. In the evening of the day, cowherds, or people of the Aheer (yadava) caste, assemble together in various places, for Wrestling's and other Sports

KAJARI MELA
At this mela women fast, and bathe groups, in places of reputed Sanctity. Ganges of guanahris, female singers of a very and abandoned character, visit Sankuldhara and Ishwar Gangi, singing kajari songs to the bathers men of the same vicious tastes also resort to the same places, and listen to the songs , and pay the Guanahris money.

LOLARIK CHHATH MELA
Held at the Lolark Well, near Assi Sangam, on the 6th day of the month of August. Hindu of both Sexes bathe in the Well on this day, in Honor of the Sun. the Guanahris visit this place , as at the Kajari Mela ; and hence this Festival is rather a concourse of Dissolute persons.

SURYA MELA
Held at Lakshmi Kund or Tank, from the 8th day August month, sudi •to the 8th day of the Waning Moon of Kuar, and kept up, therefore the sixteen days. Hindus especially Females, bathes in the Kund, and visit the Temple of Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth. On the last day of the mela thousands throng the Temple from morning to night

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