Bhadrapada Ambaji Mela, Danta, Banaskantha District, Gujarat

Ambaji Temple (an ancient temple in Gujarat) comes to life during Bhadrapada Ambaji Fair. The Bhadrapada Ambaji Fair is held at a village, outside the Ambaji temple.

Bhadrapada Ambaji Mela:

The festival calls on sanghas (pilgrim groups) in huge number. Sanghas perform a traditional folk dance, popular drama and garbas on the full moon night and sing songs by using simple instruments like pakhawaj, hun gal and jhanjh. The festival takes place in the months of August or September and it’s the best time to visit the Ambaji temple as the landscapes around are lush green and the tiny water streams around are brimming with a sparkling water. During the festival, pilgrims walk barefoot to the temple, sing songs of praise and some of them even attend readings of the Saptashati: 700 verses in praise of the Goddess Ambaji. Multiple recreational activities like game stalls, tattoo centres are installed in the Bhadrapada Ambaji Fair. During the festival, the tourists should savour scrumptious local food and enjoy various cultural programmes.

Fair Name:	Ambaji Fair
Genre:	Cultural and religious festival
Frequency:	Annual
Location:	Ambaji Village, Danta Taluka, Banaskantha District, Gujarat, India
Attendance:	More than 3 lakh devotees
When:	Hindu month of Bhadrapada (around August-September)
Duration:	Fair of Bhadarvi Poonam is held for three consecutive days namely Teras (Thrayodashi), Chaudas (Chaturdashi) and Poonam (Purnima). On these days, millions of people flock to see the Goddess. At this time many people come here on foot.

Ambaji Temple, important religious landmarks, is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas (place of worship consecrated to the goddess Shakti or Sati). The temple is said to be the original Shakti Pithas (religious texts). It’s also said that heart of Goddess Ambaji fell on this part of the earth (where the temple is located) when her body was dismembered. There is no idol of goddess inside the temple because the temple is so ancient that it predates idol-worship. Priest of the temple is decorated the upper portion of the gokh (teasel) in such a way that it looks like an idol of a goddess from a distance.

When is it held?

Bhadrapada Ambaji fair is held every year in August-September at Ambaji. It corresponds with the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. This fair is specifically important to farmers as it symbolizes the end of the busy monsoon season for them.

About Place:

This is the principal shrine of a goddess who has been worshiped since the pre-vedic period. She is often referred to as Arasuri Amba, named for the location of the temple in the Arasur hills, near the source of the Saraswati river at the south-western end of the Aravali mountain range. Ambaji mata temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. it is a major Shakti Peeth of India.

The red flag above the temple dances welcomingly in the wind. Made of white marble with gold cones, the temple was originally built by Nagar Brahmins. There is a main entrance in the front and only a small side-door, because it is believed that Mataji (another name for Ambaji) has forbidden the addition of any other door. The temple is surrounded by an open square called chachar chowk where ceremonial sacrifices called havans are performed.

The inner sanctum of the temple has silver-plated doors. There is a gokh, or niche, in the wall on which is fixed an old-plated marble inscription of the Viso Yantra, a Vedic text on sacred geometry, which is the main focus of worship. There is no idol of the goddess, perhaps because the temple is so ancient that it predates idol-worship, but the priests decorate the upper portion of the gokh in such a way that it looks like an idol of a goddess from a distance.

Be sure to look across the temple (i.e. with your back facing the goddess) at the other temple on the Gabbar hill, considered the original abode of the goddess. The world’s largest mythological light and sound show is the main attraction on the Gabbar hill, in which the entire mountain has been highlighted. At a short distance from the Ambaji temple is a large rectangular kund, with steps on all its four sides, called Mansarovar. Stone Artisan Park Training Institute (SAPTI) is also situated near Ambaji temple. SAPTI is organising a series of symposiums named Shilpotsav, where impressive sculptures were designed by the participants, and were installed at prime locations of Ambaji like Gabbar Hill, Shaktipith Circle, Light and Sound Show arena. For more information about SAPTI kindly visit on : https://sapti.gujarat.gov.in/

The ecstatic festival of Navratri is celebrated all over Gujarat in reverence of Ambaji, by dancing garba around the Holy Mother. On these nine nights the Nayak and Bhojok communities also perform bhavai theater. A large mela on Bhadarvi poornima (full moon day) is held here where people from all over the country come here walking all over from their native place. The whole Ambaji town is lit up as the nation celebrates the festive time of Diwali.

How to reach Bhadrapada Ambaji Mela:

By Road:

• The Ambaji Temple can be reached through road network across the state. nearest major city is Palanpur, from where direct buses are available from other part of state.

By Train:

• The nearest Railway station is at Palanpur (65 km), which is connected to most of the cities and towns in Gujarat.

By Air:

• The nearest International Airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad which is 179 km far from Ambaji Temple Town.