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Jeen Mata and Annakoot Fairs
Jeen Mata fair is held at the shrine of Jeen Mata, a few
kilometers from
Goriyan railway station in Sikar district, during the Navaratras. Rajputs and
Meenas, who worship Kali as the principal deity, throng this shrine and
make offering of wine and meat obtained by sacrificing goats and buffalos. The
Meenas lend colour and music to the scene.
Jeen Mata occupies an important place amongst the local deities of Rajasthan.
There is a saying in Rajasthan that those who have not had a 'darshan'
of the Jeen Mata temple, have not seen anything.
There are many stories about the deity and miracles performed by
Jeen. Jeen
Mata temple is located in Adabla Girmala village, south of Rivasi in Sikar
district. A mela is held on the occasion of Durga Puja in the temple every year.
There is an eight-faced statue of the Devi. Two lamps are lit in front of the
statue all the time. It is said that wishes of worshippers are fulfilled after 'darshan'
of Jeen Mata.
The Annakoot fair
is held in Udaipur district at Nathdwara which is the
principal set of the Ballabh sect of Vaishnavas. On Annakoot day, a mountain of
food is erected to satisfy the hunger of the lord of the universe. A huge pile
of baked rice is prepared in the courtyard of this famous shrine which is
grabbed by the Bhils as the Prasad of Kalia Baba. As soon as the doors of the
shrine are throngs open, throngs of singing and dancing Bhils rush into the
temple and clear up this pile. They keep the rice as a medicine, for they believe
it cures many ailments. Parcels of this sacred gift are sent to friends and
relatives.
Adivasi Fairs
The most important of the Adivasi fairs is held at Baneshwar in the Aspur
tehsil of Dungarpur district in southern Rajasthan. The site of the fair is a
small delta formed by the confluence of the river Som with the Mahi. One has to
wade to the fair through the Som. The word 'Baneshwar' is derived from the Siva
Linga of the area. A delta is known as 'van' in Wagad (sparsely populated area). This Vaneshwar or
Baneshwar means the Master of the Delta.
The linga in the area is said to be self-born. It is small and its top is
broken into five parts. The present temple w as built by Maharawal Askaran of
Dungarpur. Near the temple of Baneshwar there is the temple of Vishnu built by
Jankunwari, the daughter-in-law of Mavji, a highly revered saint of the area, who was supposed to be an incarnation
of Vishnu. Mavji is said to have written five books called 'Chopras'. The original
book is read every year at Diwali by the Goswami (priest) of the temple. Mavjis equestrain temple is the main idol of worship. After
Mavji, his son
succeeded him. Two disciples of Mavji built the third temple in the area which
is called as the Laskshmi-Narain temple.
The tribal fair is held from Magh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla
Purnima (Feb- Mar).
Only the priest is permitted to touch the idols. Most of the devotees are Bhils
and every night they sing round a bonfire.
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