CM Patel to inaugurate five-day Madhavpur fair on April 6, state govt plans expansion to other parts of Gujarat

The fair celebrates the wedding of Lord Krishna with Rukmini as per the Hindu mythology.

The fair will also witness participation from Gujarat and eight north-eastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura and Nagaland.

The release stated, “This year, the Tourism Department has planned a grand “Arena” that is a stadium-style setup at Madhavpur Ghed. Amidst this spectacular setting, a total of 1,600 artists from both Gujarat and the northeastern states will showcase mesmerizing cultural performances. This will be the largest joint cultural presentation ever, bringing together artists from two distinct cultural backgrounds on a single platform.”

“The Madhavpur Ghed Fair embodies the vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The aim of this initiative is to promote the spirit of national unity by fostering strong and well-structured connections between all states and union territories of India,” it added.

The cultural programmes of the fair will commence from April 1 at the Indoor Stadium in Surat. Other such programmes will be held on April 2, 3 and 5 in Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and at Somnath Temple respectively.

According to the release, a new feature has been added to the fair this year with the organisation of various sports activities such as volleyball, beach football, a 100-meter beach run, coconut throw, and beach handball – in Madhavpur.

The fair will also have multiple stalls showcasing handicrafts and cuisines of the northeastern states. “This year, the Mandap Aarohan ceremony will take place on April 6. Following this, a ‘Fuleku Yatra’ will be conducted from Madhav Raiji Temple to Brahma Kund on April 6, 7, and 8 (in Madhavpur). The wedding rituals will be performed on April 9,” said the release.

“On April 10, the wedding procession will depart from the Rukmini Temple with the bride and arrive at Madhav Raiji Temple at 4:00 pm. On this day, a grand welcome will be held for Rukminiji and Lord Krishna in Dwarka,” the release stated.