Home > Arts & Culture > Indian Festivals > Shamlaji Melo
Shamlaji Melo
Shamlaji Melo festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal by all the tribes of the Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Share this Article:

Shamlaji MeloShamlaji Melo festival takes place in a small town, Shamlaji, in Gujarat. The town is located on the Delhi Ahmedabad highway of India. Shamlaji Melo is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Kartik hence it is also known as the Kartik Poornima fair. Shamlaji Melo is celebrated with much spectacle and frolic. The tribal of Gujarat participate in the festival with much enthusiasm. It is organized in the vicinity of the famous Shamlaji temple of the region. The deity of the temple is dedicated to Gadadhar (mace bearer) or Shaksi Gopal. The temple architecture dates back to the 11th century and is of great archeological importance.

Shamlaji Melo festival attracts countless tribal not only from Gujarat but also from the adjoining state of Rajasthan. The fair was celebrated in the month of November for about two weeks. It is a significant fair for the tribes and stands as an example of the harmony that prevails in the region. There is an estimated gathering of about two hundred thousand people, which throng the place during the fair.

The devotees attending the Shamlaji Melo belong to varied castes and communities, including the Garasias and Bhils. The Bhils address the deity as `Kalio Bavji` which means Dark Divinity. The pilgrims take a dip in the river Meshwo before advancing to the temple, to seek the blessings of the Lord. The holy dip in the waters of the river is considered as very sacred. The devotees also sing devotional songs in the praise of the Lord and show their gratitude towards him. The pilgrims carry colorful religious banners in the hands of the people.

Shamlaji Melo depicts the secular nature of the country. People irrespective of their religion, caste and region participate in this holy fair. The cultural heritage and spirit of Gujarat can be thus witnessed, at its best, here. Some stalls are also set up from where visitors can buy some local handicrafts of the region as a memoir of the fair.

This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Festivals


Festivals of Telangana
Festivals of Telangana comprised of the festivals like Bonalu festival, Batakamma, Yedupayala Yatra, Sammakka Saralamma, Saralamma Jatara and many others.
Festivals of West Bengal
Festivals of West Bengal are a colourful amalgamation of cultural and traditions of the inhabitants of this Indian state. They are celebrated by various regional communities settled there.
Bastar Dussehra
Bastar Dussehra, celebrated in Chhattisgarh, is a vivacious festival where people partake enthusiastically irrespective of any caste and religion. Spanning for 75 days, it is the longest Dussehra of the world and bears no association with Ram-Ravana mythology.
Festivals of Chhattisgarh
The festivals of Chhattisgarh are a source to experience the feeling of togetherness and social harmony. Most of these festivals represent the age-old culture and tradition of the people of the region.
Festivals of Tripura
The festivals of Tripura have added social and cultural vibes, which ennoble its vivacity and ebullience. These festivals are reminiscence of the social and cultural Unity of the State.
Madai Festival
Madai Festival is a popular festival of Chhattisgarh celebrated by the Gond community. Fairs and shops are set up during the festival that is visited by many people.