The Nauchandi Mela is an annual fair held at Nauchandi Ground in Meerut.[2][3] The fair stretches for about a month and is organized by the Municipal Corporation of Meerut. It generally starts from the second Sunday after Holi.[2] The main exhibits are the artistic and religious rituals followed in rustic Uttar Pradesh. The fair witness more than 50,000 visitors every year. The Indian Railways' Nauchandi Express train is named after this fair from Meerut to the state capital Lucknow.
| Nauchandi Mela नवचण्डिका मेला | |
|---|---|
 Nauchandi Gate, Meerut | |
| Status | active |
| Genre | fairs |
| Date(s) | 1672 [1] |
| Begins | Chaitra month Krishna Pratipada |
| Ends | Chaitra Poornamasi |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Nauchandi Ground |
| Location(s) | Garh Road, Meerut |
| Coordinates | 28°58′00″N 77°43′03″E / 28.9667126°N 77.7173716°E |
| Country | India |
| Inaugurated | 1672 as Animal fair |
| Organised by | Meerut Nagar Nigam |
History edit
The fair has a prominent history dating back several hundred years. It started in the year 1672 AD as a one-day cattle trading fair. The fair has been held every year, excluding 1858, the year after 1857 revolt, which started from Meerut.[4] Since then cattle trading has been replaced by a number of other activities. The fair was postponed in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.[5]
Fair edit
The fair feature shops for Lucknow's Chikan work, Moradabad's brassware, Varanasi's carpets, rugs and silk sarees, Agra's footwear, Meerut's leather items, etc. Meerut's own products like sports goods, scissors, gajaks, nan-khatai are also sold.[3] Giant rides, wheels, circus and various other recreational arenas where artists perform stunts, remains a big attraction of the fair.[6]
Gallery edit
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Indian Railways runs a train named Nauchandi Express from Meerut to Lucknow after the name of the Goddess. -
A photo of Nauchandi Mela annually organised in meerut city. -
Nav Chandi Mata Mandir -
Nauchandi Mela in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
References edit
- ^ Inextive (26 September 2016). "नौचंदी मेले का इतिहास 350 साल पुराना". jagran.com/ (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Nauchandi Mela : Meerut Nagar Nigam" (PDF). meerutnagarnigam.in.
- ^ a b "Nauchandi Mela of Meerut". www.indiaprofile.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "Nauchandi Fair in Meerut, Historical Significance Nauchandi Fair". www.meerutonline.in. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "Meerut's iconic Nauchandi fair may not be held this year, a first in 1,000 years". The Times of India. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Nauchandi Mela 2017 - Nauchandi Mela Meerut - Nauchandi Mela in Uttar Pradesh, India". journeymart.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.