Fair and Festivals

Religious Fairs

Hola Mohalla, (National Fair) Anandpur Sahib:
90 km from Chandigarh. Mid-March immediately after the festival of Holi.The 10th Prophet of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji had started this fair in 1700-AD. To the traditional festival of the colours, Holi, he added spiritual and martial dimensions. The fair begins a few days before Holi & is marked by the congregation of Sikh from all over the State, who arrive on trucks and tractors. A large number of 'Langars' (community kitchen) offer free food to the poor and the rich alike.Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India. The day after Holi, called Hola, begins with the singing of the divine hymns in the ambrosial hours of very early morning. With the dawning of the day the Nihangs called the Guru's beloved force and a colourful sects of the Sikhs come centre-stage. They still wear traditional robes and armour of blue and saffron colours and all steel. They tie conical rising double turbans inter-laced with steel chakras (quoits) and steel rosaries, a cutlass daughing at the waist and a sword. (sometimes also a lance) clutched in the right hand. They take out a procession riding their stallions. When they reach the bed of an old seasonal river Charan Ganga they perform feats of martial valour such as riding, two horses with one foot on the back of each and a weight balanced on their heads, fencing and enacting of mock battles. The splendorous pageant strikes as a fascinating novelty.

Baisaki National Fair (April), Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda:
It is another unique Chandigarhi fair, which tempers gay abandon with deep devotion. Dancing men and women, on the day of Baisakhi, emerge singing and dancing from the surrounding villages carrying a portion of the first harvest of wheat. Everyone is seen to be proceeding to the historical gurudwara to make an offering of it. Calm descends every where when they approach the Gurudwara and make their obeisance offerings. Devotees from far off places run free kitchens here. The next day is taken over by the Nihangs and their awe-inspiring feats of the martial arts.Travel Tours India with Indian Travel Agent.

RAM TIRATH AMRITSAR , National Fair 4 days starting on night of the full-moon in November.

The Chhapaar Mela Village Chhapaar ( Ludhiana) :
It is celebrated every September to propitiate, Guga or Goga-the Zahir Pir. He is described as the Lord of the snakes. Snake poison is neutralised by his grace and barren women are blessed with off springs. Thousands of devotees take Guga Pir in a procession, common participation of the people of different sects in this fair works it out as a unifying force.
Fatehgarh Sahib: Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib Jor Mela.(December)Indian Travel agent provides hotel bookings, hotel booking in India.s

Mukatsar Maghi Fair: on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in January every year.

Baba Bakala:every amavas (moonless night) and on the day of Raksha Bandhan a very big fair is organised.

LUDHIANA: Jarag Mela
Dera Baba Nanak, Gurudaspur: Jor Mela eve of Maghi-second week of January.
Kartarpur: Jalandhar : Gurudwara Thumb Sahib, Maghi, January
Ludhiana : Gurudwara Manji Sahib Alamgir: (14-15, 16 posh last week of December)
Gurudwara Nanaksar Jagraon, Ludhiana Barsi,Five day function (August)
Bhagwathi Temple Maiser Khanna Bathinda twice a year.
Kali Temple Kapurthala A Mela is organised every year.
Qadian, Gurdaspur: Urs, last week of December
Rauza Sharif, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib: Urs in August

Other Fairs and Festivals

Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, Devi Talab, Jalandhar
National Fair, every December. Started by Baba Harballabh in the memory of his Guru Swami Tulja Giri in 1875. It is the only music fair of its type in India and even, abroad. The best of the country's exponents of instrumental and vocal music deem their careers incomplete unless they come and perform here. Also, great people from all walks of life look forward to attending this gathering. In 1929, Mahatma Gandhi had attended this fair.

Rural Sports, National Fair (February), Kila Raipur, 6Km from Ludhiana
This meet or the fair epitomises the special Punjabi bon homie and the spirit that never says die, ingenious for finding competition and pleasure from ordinary things of life. Bullock carts and other animal races, awe inspiring feats of strength and danger, the traditional wrestling, cock-fighting, kabbadi and jumps and races, the meet is wound up with the electrifying dances of the Chandigarh, the Gidha and the Bhangra.

Martyrs - Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev & Rajguru Fair
The Fair to honour their memory is held on March 23rd every year at the site of the memorial in Ferozepur. Large gathering of people, here, is then addressed by freedom fighters and the leaders of Chandigarh and India who highlight the sacrifices these patriots have made to free India from the yoke of the British.

Prof. Mohan Singh Mela, Ludhiana
It is a unique fair of cultural confluence of artists, writers and folk performers- kind of a feast which may , again, be called typically Punjabi. Alongside this cultural extravaganza noted writers and artists are honoured for their contribution to the promotion of Punjabi literature, language and culture.