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FAIRS AND FESTIVALS OF KASHMIR
Fairs and Festivals..
Shiv Ratri
The 13th day of dark fortnight in Phagan is celebrated as Shiv Ratri.
During this time house cleaning is done. Money and fish are sent to married daughters.
On the 13th day the head of the family performs the puja of Shiva on night following a feast on the 14th day.
Sont(Sankrant)
A basket of unhusked rice, with a bread, a rupee, a pen-case, a cup of curds, a few walnuts, a
crumb of cooked rice and some flowers, are kept overnight and seen the first thing in the morning
by the inmates of the house just on opening their eyes from sleep. Each picks up one or two walnuts
which are dropped in the river after bathing.
Naureh Mavas
A fair is held at Vichar Nag, a northern suburb of Srinagar on the 15th day of dark fortnight of
Chet.
Baisakhi
A fair is held at Gupta Ganga near the Nishat Bagh on the first day on the month
Baisakh.
Durga Ashtami
A fair is held at Khir Bhawani (Tula Mulah) on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of
Chet.
Ram Navami
A fair is held at Hari Parbat and at Raghu Nath Temple
on the 9th day of bright fortnight of Chet.
Vetal Shasti
A fair is held at the different shrines of Vetals in Srinagar on the 6th day of dark fortnight in
Baisakh.
Achhen Trai
A fair is held at Kothar, a village in Tehsil Anantnag on the 3rd day of bright fortnight of
Baisakh.
Ganesh Choudas
A fair is held at the Ganesh Ghat in Srinagar on the 14th day of bright fortnight of
Baisakh.
Ganga Ashtami or Sharda Ashtami
A fair is held at Harmukata Ganga where ashes of those who have died during the past twelve
months are carried and thrown into the lake there after performing the Shraddha. Another fair is
held at Ganga Jatan (Pratapsinghpora) where a bath is taken by the pilgrims in the water oozing out
from a precipice there. In leap years the fairs are not held at Harmukata Ganga and Ganga Jatan,
but at Sharda and then it is called Sharada Ashtami.
Dashera
This day is celebrated with great pomp. The weapons and instruments of war are hallowed and then
a campaign is opened. Three immense figures, stuffed with gun-powder, are made to represent
Ravana, Kumbakarna and Meghanada and these are placed at the proper time in the centre of a
large open space without the city. To represent Rama, Sita and lakhshman, three little boys are
splendidly dressed and carried in a palanquin to the same place. Crowds of people gather there and
the Maharaja sends all the troops with the guns, etc. At a given signal one of the little boys, who is
supposed to be Rama, steps forth from the palanquin attended by the two other little boys and fires
a small arrow at the big figure representing Ravana, while the other boys discharge their arrows
against the other two figures. Of course at this moment the three monsters, ravana, Kumbakarna
and Meghanada explode with a tremendous noise and then the guns rattle and the cannon roar and
the people applause.
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