Tarnetar Mela of Gujarat is where history meets mythology

One of the best things about living in India is that you get to witness and be a part of several colourful and grand festivities. One of the many vibrant festivals is the annual Tarnetar Mela that takes place in Sundernagar, Gujarat. Tarnetar is basically a tiny village, about 200 km from Ahmedabad. This little hamlet comes alive during the festival, with people hitting the festive mode.
History of the festival

Not many would be aware of the history of this beautiful festival which is attended by more than 50000 people every year. The legend is related to Draupadi’s swayamavar, an episode from the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Arjun, one of the main characters, and a Pandava, had participated in the swayamvar. In order to marry Draupadi, he pierced the eye of a rotating fish by just looking at the fish’s reflection in the water. Also, Arjun was a brilliant and undefeatable archer!

It is said that this traditional fair, celebrating Draupadi’s swayamvar, began some 200 to 250 years ago. The festival and fair is organised at the Trinetreshwar Mahadev temple (the three-eye-god), which was constructed back in the 19th century. This temple is the focal point of the fair, and this is where all the festivities are held. It dates back to the Solanki era, and celebrate the three-day festival with much enthusiasm.
Inside the temple, there is a Brahma Kund, a Shiva Kund, and a Vishnu Kund and it is believed that taking a plunge in these three water reservoirs is equivalent to taking a dip in the waters of the holy Ganges!

The celebrations


Every year, the festival falls in the Bhadarva Sud (in the months of August and September). The fun festivities involve traditional music and dance performances. People are dressed in their best traditional Gujarati costumes, and young men and women lookup for their future prospects or significant other.

Tarnetar Mela information

When: September 1 to 4, 2019
Where: Tarnetar village, Saurashtra, Gujarat

To have a unique experience in Gujarat, Tarnetar Mela is a perfect bet.