Minjar fair Chamba Julay-Augast
by RAJASTHANBYCAR
Come Monsoon, the people of Himachal Pradesh, especially of Chamba surroundings, wait for Minjar very eagerly. Originally this traditional fair was linked with the maize crop for which people of Chamba area use to worship for better crop but today Minjar Fair has assumed cultural and historical importance and got status of National Fair in which a glimpse of rich cultural heritage could be seen. There are various beliefs regarding the origin of the festival. Some believe that it is celebrated to worship Varuna, the God of water. According to a legend, in the 10th century, the river Ravi flowed through Chamba town and the Champawati temple stood on the right bank of the river and the Hari Rai temple on its left. At that time, a saint lived in the Champawati temple who used to swim across the river every morning to perform worship at the Hari Rai temple. The Raja and the inhabitants of...