Shri Mahavirji Fair

Fast Facts
Venue: Chandangaon, Rajasthan
Significance: Religious Fair
Duration of Festival: 7 weeks
Month of Celebration: March / April
Next Date of Event: 12 to 18 April 2011, 1to 6 April 2012 2012
Reaching There: Buses ply regularly between Jaipur, Hindaun and Shri Mahavirji. Shri Mahavirji Railway Station is the nearest railhead for Chandgaon.

People of Rajasthan commemorate the memory of Shri Mahavir Swami, the 24th tirthankara of Jains on Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi to Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya (March-April). The shrine of Mahavirji is situated in 'katala'. The enshrined image of Mahavirji is believed to have been discovered by a leather worker Devta-Ka-Tila. The place holds a special prominence among Digambar Jains.

They come from far and wide to offer their prayers and seek blessings. Devotees pray to the images of other Jain tirthankaras and Bhairon, the guardian. Man-Stambh (The tower of glory) is the major attraction for devotees. Maintained by the chief priest called Bhattarak and assisted by Brahmacharis (his disciples), the temple forms a perfect site for the fair.

Attractions of Shri Mahavirji Fair
Rath Yatra: Come to the venue on Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya and you see another facet of the village. People rejoice and indulge in spirituality. People take the idol of Lord Mahavir to the bank of Gambhiri River in a spectacular procession to have Kalash Abhishek. The rath (the Golden Chariot) of the deity is drawn by bullocks.

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When the ceremony culminates, the procession is comes back with same enthusiasm and glory. Four pilgrims wave chanvars (fly whisks) over the idol of Mahavirji and the entire region reverberates with devotional and religious songs with intermittent slogans of 'Shri Mahavir Swami Ki jai'.

Abhishek: Abhishek is a must see ceremony in the temple. The idol of Mahavirji is washed, and then follows the pujan and ashta-argha (eight oblations). People worship in the evening with diya of ghee and do aarti. The deity is offered ice, white and yellow flowers, sandalwood, camphor, saffron, mishri and dry fruits. Devotees flock up to the temple, offer their prayers, meditate and seek blessings. The evening becomes more bright with illuminated lights.