Manali’s Dhungri Mela kicks-off today

One of the most-awaited religious fairs of the year, especially for the folks of Himachal Pradesh, the Dhungri Mela has kicked-off today. An annual celebration, it is held at Manali’s Hadimba Devi Temple to celebrate the birthday of Goddess Hadimba, the presiding deity. It is attended by the locals with much fanfare and is quite a spectacle to look at.

Dhungri Mela brings about a carnival-like ambiance to the surrounding villages, and brings a number of stalls that sell handicrafts and food. The fair also sees idols of other deities being carried to the temple in elaborate processions. It is believed that the idols, all decked up, mark the presence of other gods in the celebrations that continue for three years.
The said idols are dressed up in clothes and ornate jewellery, and then unveiled for the onlookers, who eagerly await a glimpse or two. The face masks of these idols are impressively intricate, usually carved out of silver. Even the palanquins used to carry the idols are beautifully-designed and a treat to look at. It is being believed that the carriers do not get tired of the heavy palanquins as gods propel the same with their power.

The fair also stands witness to the impressive traditional music of the region, and one can also pore over some really ancient musical instruments. The processions also cover the other temples in the vicinity and onlookers can easily participate in these.
The festival dates for this year are marked from May 14 to May 16, and if you are in Manali, this is where you need to be.