A Day of Joy and Tradition: Discovering the Soul of Bir Fair

The summary of this post is as follows: Bir is a small village in India where a fair is held every year in the month of March, in this fair there are rides, different types of shops and a wrestling competition is also organized in the fair. It is known that people from nearby cities come and show their art. Only these things will be told in detail in today's post.

Bir Wrestling Festival

Devta Mahunnag from Banad village

Local Goddess giving blessings

It's been 4 years since I lived in Bir and every year I witness the fair organized here. Himachal Pradesh is a state located in the north of India. Kangra is a district in it... Bir is located there. Bir is world famous for tea and paragliding. The altitude of Bir is 1350 meters and this village is surrounded by Dhauladhar mountain range.

This Bir fair is organized every year after the Holi festival. The only purpose of this fair is that the local gods and goddesses come here and bless the local people to be happy. This practice, which has been going on for years, has been extended by the people, under which now shops, clothes, food and wrestling etc. are being organized in this fair along with the deities.

Local snacks are in making

jalebi in making

Pakaude

My goal today is to visit the fair, meet people I know and take some good photographs. I go out to have breakfast with my camera. First of all I go to the deity's doli and after praying there I go for a walk in the other part of the fair. I don't know what Jalebi is called in other parts of the world but this sweet is my favourite. Hot jalebis are being prepared as soon as you enter the gate of the fair, if I had not come after breakfast, I would have definitely eaten jalebis. Along with Jalebi, Samosa, Namak Pare, Shakkar Pare and Matthi are being made here.

The fair has a variety of rides, such as a giant wheel, train, horse ride, joy ride, bouncy house and swing boat. Everyone from children to elders are enjoying these rides. I get dizzy on rides so I don't sit on rides anymore. People are eating ice cream, sunset is about to happen, the atmosphere is very pleasant. Gods are shining in front of the rays of the setting sun, there is a fake flower shop from where people are buying pots, flowers etc. to decorate the house. Pakoras are being fried in one side and uncle is buying them.

Artificial flower shop

And now it was time to go to the ground where the wrestling competition is going to take place. The whole ground is packed with spectators. There are no seats to sit, so people have climbed on the roofs of the houses, some have climbed trees and sat down. The game begins, there is mixed wrestling. For the first time, girls are also wrestling here. Undoubtedly the wrestlers who come here are not professional, but they do practice for a few weeks for this fair. Bets are being made, there is enthusiasm in the audience. Everyone is shouting, whistling, excitement and enthusiasm can be clearly seen in the atmosphere. The happiness on the face of the wrestlers who are winning is of a different level and those who are losing are quietly encouraging other wrestlers by sitting on one side.

There is maximum noise on girls' wrestling, although female wrestlers were few, but as much as they were, they created an atmosphere. Everyone made noise for the girls and increased their enthusiasm. In response, the girls also made the public happy by putting good tricks. It is a custom here that if a family places their small child in the lap of a wrestler, then the child will grow up to be as strong as a wrestler. The public is also giving money to the wrestlers and is also encouraging them. Wrestlers are accepting money thinking it as public's love.

Wrestling ends at 5 pm, people start going to their respective homes. I also start walking towards home with my camera. On the way I see sunset whose photo I click and come home humming Hindi songs. My cat named Pao is roaming in the field outside the house, I call her home and give her milk.

So that's how my day ends. Had a lot of fun going to the fair today. Now waiting for this fair next year. I hope you would have enjoyed reading this blog, and if you could not read the blog, then you must have enjoyed seeing the photos.

Disclaimer: All photos are clicked by me (himalayanwomb), all photos are clicked from canon 550d, photos are edited in lightroom. This blog has been written in Hindi and translated into English, for which the help of Google translation has been taken. And yes I proudly say this post is AI free.