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Chaksu
Fair,Jaipur |
Introduction
of
Chaksu Fair |
The Chaksu
Fair, also called as the Sheetla Mata Fair, is held once a year to
mark the occasion of Shitla Ashtami. Sheetla Mata is supposed to be
the goddess of small pox. Offerings and prayers are offered by
devotees to quiet down the goddess in order to prevent the epidemic of
small pox. The fair is a brilliant display of color, with a variety of
stalls selling items like utensils, edible products, clothing,
agricultural tools etc. In addition to all this a cattle fair is also
organized simultaneously at the festival.
Jaipur, the Pink City consists of so many colors, and various
attractive fairs and festivals that are celebrated in the city. Along
with the festivals, numerous fairs are celebrated every year
traditionally.
One of the biggest fairs held every year, during March-April, is named
as Sheetla Mata Fair. The fair is held in the honor of deity Shitla
Mata, the Goddess of epidemic diseases. She is worshipped to receive
her blessings to prevent seasonal illness. The fair is a great center
for trading of cattle. The fair also includes numerous activities such
as rewarding the best breed. The duration of the fair is one day only.
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Major Attractions of the Fair |
The fair
attracts many people as they get an opportunity to see the
magnificence. several energetic villagers flamboyantly dressed
celebrate along with their friends and family. The fairs held are so
full of color and liveliness that the colorful celebration of this
festival and fair holds a special charm.
The Shitla Mata Fair not only embraces trade of cattle, but a huge
temporary market emerges with various items on sale. The other charm
that captivates is the dance performance. Traditional Rajasthani
dancers enjoying, are performing stunning dances with a variety of
tricks, such as acrobats. The fair is worth a visit, and astonishes
many visitors.
The cattle fair also take place at the same time in this fair. The
atmosphere becomes truly enjoyable due to surplus of colorful
activities happening in the fair,.Cattle breeders decorate their
animals wonderfully and take them to the fair. Finally prize is
awarded to the best breeder.
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When Chaksu Fair is Held |
The Sheetla
Mata Fair is held in the month of March-April (Chaitra on Krishna
Paksh) in village Seel-Ki-Doongri (Jaipur).. The word 'Sheetla' is
derived from sheetal.Sheetal means calm and composed. The fair takes
place in Seel-Ki-Doongri village in Jaipur. This Fair lasts for only
24 hours in which pilgrims visit to give respect to Sheetla Mata. The
fair is celebrated in her honour every year. The fair attracts hordes
of visitors from far and wide.It is a absolute picnic for the pilgrims
who comes to visit the fair. It is usual to cook one's own food at the
site, and eat it only after it has been offered at the shrine.
This is the biggest fair, as almost one lakh people get together from
the neighboring areas of Jaipur every year to celebrate. The fair is
celebrated at Shitla Mata Shrine, positioned on the hill top of
Doongri, in the village of Seel-ki-Doongri. It is at a distance of
about 5 km from Chaksu, the district headquarters and 35 km from
Jaipur. The statue of the goddess is made of attractive red sandstone.
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Why Chaksu Fair is Conducted |
It is
thought that if due to any reason, Sheetla Mata, the goddess of
epidemics loses her temper then the area is expected to be affected by
harmful epidemics. That’s the main reason why, this fair is conducted
to keep her mood happy and contributions of various kinds of fruits,
sweets and cash is placed at the feet of Sheetla Mata. A good-looking
red stone placed inside the temple is an structure of the deity.
People who come to attend the fair are supposed to take food only
after visiting the holy temple of Sheetla Mata.
The temple of Sheetla Mata houses a red stone showing the deity. Story
of past behind it is that it is the anger of Sheetla Mata that leads
to epidemics. So, in order to quiet and calm the Mata, devotees pray
to her and make offerings. Devotees from across the miles come to
visit this fair and pray to Sheetla Mata. A temporary market takes
place at the time of the fair,. The villagers are seen doing business
for various items like shoes, clothes, foodstuff, utensils,
agricultural implements, etc. Cattle fair is also organized which is
another attraction during the fair.
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How to get there |
The village
Seel-Ki-Doongri is situated nearby a tank known as Band Sheodungri. It
lies on the (NH-8) Jaipur-Kota road 35 kms south-east of Jaipur and 5
kms. from the tehsil headquarter, Chaksu.
The nearby rail head is Chaksu on the Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur section of
Western Railway. Regular buses are available on the Jaipur-Kota,
Jaipur-Tonk, Jaipur-Deoli routes which pass by this village.
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