THE MINJAR FAIR OF CHAMBA

 In the various parts of India harvesting season is celebrated with a great pomp and show. Minjar fair of Chamba is also connected with harvesting. People of the area celebrate this fair to see their bountiful crops. Chamba is famous for its Minjar fair which is celebrated in the rainy season every year. According to the old and folk traditions of Chamba, there are several stories prevalent regarding the origin of Minjar fair of Chamba. Minjar symbolizes the Minjar Mela of Chamba which is in the minds and hearts of the people of Chamba1 . It is connected with their souls. In the whole of Chamba district, this fair is celebrated only in the Chamba town proper. Now these days this fair is celebrated in the ground of Chaugan with great enthusiasm. Minjar is one of the leading festivals of Himachal Pradesh, elevated to the rank of International fair and registering presence of all and sundries from all over the state and nation. It is held from the second to third Sunday of Sawan month (July-August) every year. The commencement of the fair is heralded by the distribution of Minjar, a silk tassel in the lankness of golden shoots of maize which is worn with pride on the dress by the local people. The Minjar fair has a number of legends and oral traditions attached to it regarding its origin and history. This chapter is an attempt to examine their validity and importance in the light of historical and other evidences available in the changing scenario of the society. Minjar is the most famous, peculiar and popular fair of Chamba. This fair is celebrated for full one week. People from all walks of life transcending religion, caste, creed and sex celebrate the fair. Chamba celebrates Minjar fair in the month of Sawan every year with great excitement and joy. Minjar fair is known as, „King of all fairs of Chamba’. 2 In the rainy season, when it is raining, earth looks like heaven with snow coloured clouds and greenery in the fields. Peasants feel so happy and energetic to see their bountiful crops.3 Minjar is a word of Hindi language. It is derived from the word „Manjari‟. Minjar means the maize flower or shoot of maize. As maize is the main food of the people of the hills and it has great importance to them. Originally the word „Minjar‟ is derived from the word ‘manjari’. In fact Minjar is the synonym of word Manjari. In the regional language of Chamba, Minjar or manjari is a maize flower. Earlier the word Minjar was used only for maize flower but now-a-days this word is also used for other food crops like rice and barley. Theories of the origin of The Minjar fair:- Deriving its name from the maize flower, the Minjar Fair finds a lot of legends and folklores attached to it. Minjar fair is the most popular of all the fairs of Chamba but its origin is lost in the hoary past. According to the old traditions of the Chamba there are several stories prevalent regarding the origin of the Minjar fair. Several records, gazetteers of Chamba, folklores, traditions and Census Reports of the Himachal Pradesh give various theories regarding the origin of Minjar fair: The mystery of the origin of the Minjar fair takes hold of the imagination of people especially before the Minjar fair and many different views start appearing off and on in the various papers and periodicals claiming authenticity.The first theory is according to a legend, in the ancient period river Ravi flowed through the middle of Chaugan. On one side of the river was Champavati temple and on the other side was Hari Rai temple. A saint with divine powers who lived near Champavati temple 83 used to swim across the river every day to pay his obeisance to Lord Hari Rai temple. Since the flow of the Ravi River was very high it was difficult to cross it. The saint asked the people to assemble at the temple of Champavati with the assistance of some Brahmins from Banaras, the saint performed a yajna for seven days. The saint lit the holy fire of yajna. The Brahmins prepared a magical cord of seven different colours amidst chanting of mantras. This magical cord became a symbol of Minjar. The legend goes on to say that after seven days of yajna, the river changed its course of water. It‟s believed that the so called Minjar cord and the remains of the yajna were immersed into the river Ravi. From this day onwards this yajna became the occasion of celebration every year in the form of Minjar fair.The legend may not be of any historical importance but still draws attention because of its association with river (water) and Minjar. Since then the Minjar is made in silken and golden threads in five or seven cords. For the justification of this theory one reference is given from the book of William Crooke, „Many Saints or holy men are suppose to possess the power of changing the course of river. A rishi changed the course of the Sarju (river) Bhrigu, the sage, gave to one his disciples the power to drag the Narbada after him by trailing his clothes behind his back, on condition that he did not look back, but he violated his taboo and the river did not move as far as he wished; a Khasi tale tells how two goddesses changed the course of two rivers.”9 2. Some symbolizes the fair to the victories of Raja Sahila Varman of Chamba. When the Raja returned to Chamba after his victory over the Raja of Kangra, he was welcomed at the Nalhora Bridge, the gateway of Chamba by his subjects with tentacles of maize or paddy flowers. Earlier there was a tradition that when the Raja of Chamba used to come back from the battle field after a victory he was offered some gifts by his people.But this time the Raja was offered maize flowers by his people who were working in the fields when the Raja came back from Bhattiyat side (the place which was on the way to his palace). In these small states of the hills the mutual fights of the Rajas were very common and so were the celebrations. This rejoicing of the people by the offering Minjar flowers became a regular feature of celebration with the passage of the time. Rajas were jealous of each other and always used to remain at war. As the state income was not much, it was inevitable for the Rajas to charge various feudal levies. The Raja carried the tentacles of maize flowers gifted by his people to his palace as something sacred instead of throwing them in the way. It is unfortunate that the actual dates of the above war between Raja Sahila Varman and the Raja of Kangra are not available, but this war was found economically beneficial as the Raja of Chamba got a huge amount from this war. To commemorate his victory at his capital, the Raja Sahila Varman ordered for festivities which most probably coincided with the fair as tentacles of maize grown during these days. It is believed that this fair was started by Raja Sahila Varman. It is evident from history when Raja Sahila Varman was returning from Kangra after defeating the King of Kangra, then his public greeted him with maize flowers. They presented Minjar to Raja and showed their happiness.When Raja returned to Chamba, people showered the Manjris of rice and maize flowers on victorious Raja Sahila Varman. People of Chamba were very excited and happy. People considered manjaris as the symbol of prosperity for Chamba. Raja was very happy with warm welcome by his people. He discussed with his ministers and courtiers about this warm welcome with manjaris/Minjars. Then he decided to celebrate the Minjar fair in its formal form. He also discussed about it with his royal priest or Guru Sidh Charpatnath to please his public and to win the hearts of his people. After the permission of yogi Charpatnath, Raja ordered to organize a splendid, grandeur mahotsav, which was the Minjar fair. Some people hold that the fair is held always on Sunday impels some to believe that it is associated with Sun worship and also due to the fact that the Rajas of Chamba belonged to Suryavansi (Solar Dynsty) line of Rajputs. According to another version given in the local online news paper, “Himavani” dated 22 August 2015. It is believed that an old lady wanted to meet the contemporary king of Chamba. She was too poor to buy an appropriate gift for the King. So the lady took a maize flower along with her and presented it to the King. The King was greatly moved by the simplicity of the lady that he declared the day to be feted as maize day or Minjar day. Since then the day began to be celebrated with great pomp and show. Those festivities took place in the form of Minjar Fair at Chamba.It is also said that Raja of Chamba went to Kangra and won the battle. When he was coming back from the Kangra via Bhatiyat, the season of Dhaan (Rice) was in full swing, people of the area were busy in their fields, thus, they presented the flower of that Dhaan to the Raja. When Raja crossed the Jot pass and entered the other side of Chamba, people were busy in maize crop and they presented the maize flower to the Raja. According to one belief, Minjar is regarded as the symbolic fair of season when the maize is in the flower. In fact, literal meaning of Minjar is maize flower only. There is a custom in which people get exact replica of Minjar made of silken threads of golden colour which is worn on the dress as a token of real Minjar. Till the last day when the thread made Minjar is finally immersed in the river Ravi as an offering to the water God. He is religiously known as Varuna or Khawaja Khijar, with the intention to secure good rains and bumper harvest. Accordingly the Hindu people associate this fair with the worship of Lord Varuna and the Muslim people with Khwaja Khizr. Both are the names of water God for different communities. In this celebration prayers are made wishing for the rains, prosperity and welfare of mankind. In the celebration of the fair the ruler of the Chamba state used to participate equally and make his offerings. According to the views of Dr. M.P. Bhardwaj about the Minjar fair is, “Minjar festival is a pious festival for the well being of humans, for good crops and well being of their animals. It forces the innate desires of healthy living of the people of Chamba. They follow some simple rituals and good wishes to each other. They wish for good health, wealth, prosperity of the people and region. According to famous writer, Raja Sahila Varman did not return from Kangra after his battle or victory. His daughter Champawati was very worried about him. She discussed with her close friends about her tension regarding her father. One of her friends went to nearby field and brought manjris of rice and maize and gifted to her. She said that blossom of these manjris is the symbol of prosperity and goodwill. She gave her assurance of her father‟s well being and built her hope that her father would returned home soon. In response to her friend‟s gesture the princess told her friend that if her father would return to Chamba as victorious king then she would give her and other friends golden manjris.  The story further narrates that after sometime the Raja returned to Chamba as victorious King and the prediction of Champawati’s friend came true. When the king returned to Chamba his daughter told him about the whole incident and discussed about the golden manjris. Raja Sahila Varman accepted the request of his daughter and discussed with Guru Charpatnath and higher officials. He even gave golden Minjars to Champavati’s friends but also he respectfully distributed golden Minjars to the whole public of Chamba and organized Minjar Mahotsav as an event of celebration.It is a common tradition in India that anything which is sacred and is required for worshipping only for a limited time is ultimately immersed into river or ocean. The Raja kept the tentacles of plants (i.e. the Minjars) in his Palace as something sacred and did not simply throw them on the way to his Palace. Probably the king chose the auspicious occasion for the immersion of the so called tentacles of Minjars given by his subjects. His courtiers and subjects were also accompanied him on the auspicious occasion. He cheerfully invited all his faithful official, employees, reputed citizens and whole public of Chamba. Raja distributed golden Minjars (made of gold) to his people. In the joy of mahotsav, some sweets were also exchanged. The festivities, the procession with military parade and the great victory could hardly have been forgotten by the people and to commemorate them, they began a tradition in the subsequent years. Historically speaking the reference of Raja Sahila Varman’s victory over Kangra is given in the copper plates granted by Soma Varman and Asata Varman, sons of Salvahana Varman in the year of 1056-66 A.D. If Raja Sahila Varman’s victory over Kangra is a truth then the celebration of Minjar in his times can also be given an historical importance, because commemoration of victories by the rulers was a very common feature. 9. In the Gazetteer of Chamba, 1904 Dr. Hutchison says “This mela is probably of aboriginal origin, and connected with the earth-worship, which was so prevalent among the aborigines of the hills. It was probably intended to secure good rains and a bountiful harvest. The ancient name of the river god in Aryan times was Varuna and the present name is Bir-betal, but he also bears a muhammadan name, Kwaja-khizr, and is worshipped all over the Punjab, as the god of wells, springs, streams and rivers. The fact of the mela being always held on Sunday may have some connection with Sun-worship.” But the view of Dr. J. Hutchison and Dr. J. Vogel, do not seems to be believable so far as the worship of Lord Varuna and Khwaja Khizr is concerned. No „Mantra’ is recited on any occasion during the fair in the honor of any God. How could it be possible that the Raja worshipped God Varuna without the help of the priest? Here no rites or religious ceremonies are performed as sanctioned by various Hindu scriptures. The fair has no religious character and the people without difference of religion or creed take part in it. Rivers are sacred to all and the throwing of coconut cannot be considered as worship of Varuna. Since the ancient times some offerings based on false notion were made to the river by the citizens of this region for the safety from the floods. The ritual of throwing coins, fruits or flowers into the river while crossing a bridge is still observed by the old men and women of this place till today. There is no other fair which is so admired among the people possessing different beliefs. Only the obscurity of the origin is responsible for the belief of the people that the articles thrown into the river are the offerings for Khwaja. The worship of Pir and Khwaja spread into the hill and during after the region of Shah Jahan.