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Mela Jarga
On the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the same month the fair of
Mela-Jagra is held to celebrate the birthday of lord Mahasu who is the
popular deity of Simla, Sirmaur and Jaunsar areas. This fair takes place
at night and the next day a man chosen by the deity, sleeps at the temple
and acts as the caretaker who observes a fast the whole day and eats only
after he has performed the 'Puja' unto the deity. Some symbolic
object from the temple is taken to a water tank and bathed there and people
who accompany it are sprinkled with the water from the ritual wash. When
the party returns to the forest, a community feast is prepared with articles
procured from each house in the village. In the evening a huge bonfire
is lit known as 'cheeda'. The cheeda is the symbol of the birthday celebration.
The priest from the temple comes and perform Puja to it and people line
the path with burning torches.
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