Ganga Mela 2010

Thursday, January 21, 2010
17th Ganga Mela by the riverside of Shilabati


17th “Ganga Mela” a village fair took place by the riverside of Shilabati at Simlapal near Anandapur & Jarisha Village on the sacred day of “Poush Sankantry”. It generally lasts for five days and this year it was from 18th January to 22nd.

The main attraction of this fair is various Clay Idols of goddesses for display which is made by local artisans .Every year they make a gigantic idol . Beside it, An idol of goddess Ganga is also built to worship during this mela.But,actually the fair have a temple in the centre and chanting of "RadhaGobinda Nama Sankirtan"is continued ceaselessly for those five days.

There was a huge gathering of people coming from surrounding villages as well as from distant places like Sarenga , Raipur , Khatra , Indpur, Taldangra etc. to see the Mela. Various articles are sold in the stalls and people crowd round the stalls to buy them. Children buy toys and whistles , women buy countless things of daily use.

The crowd before the main gate near the Shilabati Bridge is also very large because most of them including old ones also want to worship the goddesses GANGA on the suspicious day of “Poush Parban”.

Really, this has become a part of our life , especially who lives at Simlapal as it relieves the monotony of modern life . Now I have to wait again a year to …………