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About Minjar Mela

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About Minjar Mela

Minjar Mela is the great monsoon fair of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. It begins on the second Sunday of the month of Shravan, in late July, and lasts a week. Minjar is the name of the golden silk tassels that look like the flowers of maize and paddy, the crops that are growing at this time.

On the first day, minjar tassels are offered at the Lakshmi Narayan and Raghuvira temples, and people pin them on their clothes. The town gathers on the wide Chaugan ground for stalls, music, sports and cultural evenings.

On the last day a grand procession goes from the old palace to the Ravi river with drums, flags and the palanquin of Lord Raghuvira. People offer their minjar to the river with a coconut, a coin and fruit, asking for good rain and a rich harvest. The Kunjri Malhar songs of the rainy season are sung.

The fair is centuries old and was started by the kings of Chamba. Today it is a state level fair with folk troupes from Himachal and other states, and families from all over the Chamba valley come to enjoy it.

How people celebrate Minjar Mela

  • Pinning silk minjar tassels on clothes
  • Offering minjar at the Lakshmi Narayan temple
  • Fair, sports and music on the Chaugan ground
  • The procession to the Ravi river
  • Offering minjar, coconut and coins to the river
  • Kunjri Malhar songs of the monsoon

How to wish well

  • Wishes for good rain, a rich harvest and the beauty of Chamba suit the fair.
  • Friends from Chamba living away will love a wish that remembers the Chaugan and the Ravi.
  • The last day, with the procession to the Ravi, is the high point; a blessing that day is a lovely touch.

Questions about Minjar Mela

When is Minjar Mela?

It begins on the second Sunday of the month of Shravan, in late July, and lasts about a week. The start date for each year is shown on this page.

What is minjar?

Minjar is a golden silk tassel that looks like the flowers of maize and paddy. People wear it during the fair and offer it to the Ravi at the end.

Where is Minjar Mela held?

In the town of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, on the Chaugan ground and along the Ravi river.

Why is Minjar Mela celebrated?

It welcomes the monsoon and prays for a good harvest of maize and paddy. It is also a centuries old royal fair of Chamba.

What happens on the last day of Minjar Mela?

A procession goes to the Ravi river with drums and the palanquin of Lord Raghuvira, and people offer their minjar, a coconut and coins to the river.

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