Exploring the Cultural Mosaic of India's Largest Tribal Fair - Beneshwar Dham

Rajasthan: Beneshwar Dham, located in Dungarpur district at the convergence of the rivers Som, Mahi, and Jakham, is currently the site of the largest tribal fair in India. This annual gathering, which has been taking place for centuries, attracts not only devotees from the nearby areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, but also a growing number of tourists who are interested in experiencing the unique cultural celebration. The fair has nearly 1000 stalls selling various products ranging from food to entertainment.

The mela will continue until February 11th, but the maximum attendance is expected on the 4th and 5th, in observance of Magh Poornima, a day deemed propitious for ancestral veneration ceremonies.

The fair was inaugurated with the hoisting of flag at the top of Shri Radhakrishna Temple in the presence of chief guest Maharaj Achyutanand, head of the Beneshwar temple, and devotees from South Rajasthan and adjoining states. On Magh Purnima, the head would arrive from the Sabal Hari temple to the Shahi Palace, perform puja- archan and take a dip in the Maahi Ganga river with the devotees, temple sources told The MookNayak.

Mahakumbh of the Aadivasi people

The confluence of the three rivers is known as Triveni Sangam, and the fair is often referred to as the "Maha Kumbh" of the Adivasi people. This sacred spot is considered a bigger pilgrimage site than Pushkar, Prayag and Kashi by the tribes. On Magh Poornima, thousands of people gather here every years to perform rituals to show reverence to their forebears and implore for the tranquility of the departed spirits.

The tribal people who attend the fair are dressed in elaborate attire and jewelry, making the fair a vibrant display of color. The tribals come in their extraordinary attire and elaborate ornaments, making fair a rainbow of colours.Garasia and Bhil adivasis can be seen in colourful clothes.The elaborate blue, green and red ghaghras of the Garasia women, who also wear chunky earrings, attractive necklaces and tingling anklets, is a sight tourists gather to see.The men of this tribe wear coloured shirts, a dhoti and a red or saffron fenta or turban.

Beneshwer- Shiva, Lord of the Ben or Delta

In the Vagad dialect, an island or delta is called 'Ben'.There is also an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the area near the confluence of the three rivers.The fair is a combination of two celebrations, one in honor of Lord Shiva, who is worshipped here as Beneshwar - Lord of the Ben, and another in celebration of the completion of the construction of the Vishnu temple about 250 years ago by Jankunwar, the daughter-in-law of the revered Saint Mavji, considered an incarnation of Vishnu. As part of the rituals, the priest or 'mathadish' arrives in a grand procession and takes a dip in the river, followed by an 'aarti' and the enactment of the Raslila in the Lakshmi Narayana temple.

Teacher's viral video upset Vipra samaj

A recent case has arisen in Sabla police station area where a government school teacher Dinesh Kharadi has allegedly intimidated and threatened the priests performing rituals at the Beneshwar temple. A video that went viral featuring the teacher has caused distress within the Vipra community. The teacher in the video is seen intimidating the priests and alleging that they coerce the public into conducting rituals in the name of deceased souls. Vipra Sena staged a protest over the incident and met the Divisional Commissioner demanding stringent action against the teacher. Dinesh Joshi, the state president of Vipra Sena , Chandrashekhar Joshi the district vice president of BJP youth wing, too gave a memorandum to the authorities in this connection .