Kunda Mela is one of the famous and largest festivals of Indian state of Jharkhand. It is basically a cattle fair held in the Chatra district of Jharkhand. It is organized in Pratappur at the time of Phalgun Shivratri. This fair is a platform to portray the rich customs and traditions of this place. Apart from Jharkhand, Kunda Mela is also popular among the people of neighbouring states such as Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chattisgarh.
Attractions of Kunda Mela
The Kunda Mela takes place during the occasion of Shivratri. The biggest attraction of this fair is the cattle trade. Buyers and sellers trek through long distances of dusty roads with their cattle to be part of the fair. Some of the sellers adorn their cattle to make them look attractive to the buyers. Kunda Mela is an important fair in Jharkhand as buying and selling of cattle is one of the chief sources of livelihood for the people of this region. Kunda Mela actually increases the economy of Chatra district in Jharkhand.
The fair is not only popular among the traders, but also among other people of Jharkhand. During the fair, different items and products such as utensils, handicrafts, garments, shoes and pottery are sold by the temporary stalls. Food is another attraction of this fair where one can taste different snacks and sweets. Traditional singing and dancing are the other remarkable aspects of Kunda Mela.
The festive celebrations of Shivratri coupled with the merriment of Kunda Mela make this an exciting place for the people of Jharkhand as well as neighbouring states. Both local and distant travelers flock to Pratappur to explore and enjoy the fair.
Visiting Information of Kunda Mela
It is easy to reach the fair as Jharkhand has good airway, railway and roadway network. The main airport is Ranchi airport which connects Jharkhand with rest of the cities like Kolkata, Patna, Mumbai and New Delhi. The nearest railheads are Ranchi railway station and Hazaribagh Road railway station. The road network connects various places of the states with Jharkhand. One can avail either state transport or private bus service to reach the fair. There are quite a few hotels, restaurants and lodges that can be availed to fulfill the accommodation requirements.