Tarnetar Fair in Ahmedabad is one of the most vibrant events in the entire state of Gujarat and the Tarnetar Fair is held for three days at of Temple of Shiva or Trinetreshwar which means "Three Eyed God". Tarnetar Fair of Ahmedabad is a colorful event where the tribal people gets the opportunity to assemble and take part in the series of joyous activities that forms an intrinsic part of fair which is held on 4th, 5th and 6th of the Shukla Paksha (August-September) every year.
There is a popular myth associated with the Tarnetar Fair at Ahmedabad which depicts the fact that the venue of the Tarnetar Fair in Ahmedabad was also the venue of Draupadi's swayamvar and following this myth there is prevalent tradition among the tribal people to visit the Tarnetar Fair at Ahmedabad in order to find a suitable match and thus over the years Tarnetar Fair of Ahmedabad has gradually evolved as the most eminent matchmaking melas'.
The temple of Tarnetar is surrounded by several small shops or 'hat', selling goods to visitors and those who traditionally attend the Fair may need. The games of chance and merry-go-rounds etc. dot the area. The people are here to enjoy the collective fair, and do it heartily with all types of games, dances and eatables. The glimpse of the life of people is seen here at the Tarnetar Fair, 'Rangmelo', 'Umangmelo'
The Trinetreshvar Mahadev temple aroud which the Fair takes place was built in the memory of Km'anba; the daughter of the Lakhpat king Karansinhji, in 1902. In the front of the temple is a 'kund' and a tulsi plant. The style is used by the Sompura in other shiva temples too. The popular legend says that the 'Svayamvara' of Draupadi took place and Aljuna won her by his 'Matsyavedh' here. That mayor may not be the case in fact, but in spite of slowly turning more urban and modern, the Tarnetar Fair still remains worth a visit.
The venue of the Tarnetar Fair in Ahmedabad has an adjoining Shiva Temple which stands on the banks of a rivulet and has a kund or reservoir built in the traditional pattern. Tarnetar Fair in Ahmedabad comprises of almost Over 300 stalls which adorns the site of the fair every year and these stalls mostly specializes in selling numerous attractive objects and offers a multitude of delicious food and refreshments and an embroidery exhibitions, a cattle show, and competitive sports also forms an integral part of Tarnetar Fair of Ahmedabad. Tarnetar Fair of Ahmedabad also features ras, garba and hudo performances and some of the primary attractions of the Tarnetar Fair of Ahmedabad include family planning stall, merry-go-rounds and photographer's stall. The most interesting part of the Tarnetar Fair in Ahmedabad is the spontaneous joyous spirit with which people participate in folk songs and folk dances but the Rasada is the most popular dance form in Tarnetar Fair in Ahmedabad in which hundreds of women take part every year.
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