Junagadh

Mystic and religious Bhavnath fair kicks off today in the foothills of mount Girnar in Junagadh, Gujarat. As per the tradition, the fair is officially declared open every year after a group of sadhus worships religious flag and install it over the top of a small Bhavnath mandir.

Around one million visitors from all over Gujarat and other states visit this five-day long fair every year.

Main attraction of this fair is presence of naked Hindu saints(naga baba) throughout five days, and their march on Mahashivratri night. It is believed that Ashwatthama who is still alive visits this fair. It is also believed that Lord Shiva himself takes bath in Mrugi Kunda here on Maha Shivaratri night. During the fair, lakhs of people visits Mount Girnar.

Bhavnath fair is mini version of Kumbh mela. During Kumbh mela, sadhus take bath in a river in day time and all akhadas participate in it, while during Bhavnath fair, sadhus take bath in Mrugi Kund in the midnight on Maha Shivaratri. This march is participated by three akhadas(groups of Shiva worshiper sadhus). Kumbh melas take place once in four years while Bhavnath Mela is celebrated every year.

Mount Girnar which is known locally as ‘Girnari Maharaj’ looks like a face of Shiva