Todays Special

Bhadra Purnima

Bhadra Purnima

This fair is held on the full moon of Bhadrapad at the temple of the goddess Ambaji in Ambaji. Ambaji Bhadra Purnimais celebrated in Gujarat with pomp and grandeur. The main event takes place at the shrine of goddess Ambaji near the foothills of Aravalli mountain ranges. Ambaji Bhadra shrine is one of the oldest and attractive shrines in Gujarat. The festival takes place on the full moon night in the month of August or September. The festival and the fair attract tourists from different corners of the country as the devotees have a strong belief on the goddess.
 

Ambaji is the principal shrine of the goddess Ambaji in Gujarat. The deity is represented by a triangular Vishwa yantra, inscribed with figures and the syllable ‘Shree’ in the centre and there is no idol. This fact testifies the temple’s antiquity that the tourists visit the temple during the fair as an essential part of their lives. On this day, the various agriculturists and general public visit the temple. In the evening the Bhavai and garba dances are performed. The devotee attend readings of the Sapatashati, the seven hundred verses in praise of the goddess, and visit the temple for an auspicious view of the deity.
 

Interesting Facts
 

The main festival takes place in the shrine of Goddess Ambaji, Which remains populated by the tourists during the main event that takes place in the month of 'Bhadra' according to the local calendar. During the ceremony, the goddess is worshiped and devotees from different parts of the world gather to make their wishes come true. Ambaji shrine is one of the important shrines and is regarded as the 'Shakti Pitha'. On the full moon day, various religious rituals and the Garba performances take place near the shrine. The fair or mela in front of the shrine makes the event more attractive and sugnificant.
 

Excursion
 

There are other holy places around Ambaji, which pilgrims usually visit on such occasions. One such place is Gabbargadh, a small hill two miles west of Ambaji. There is a Pipal tree at the top, which pilgrims circumambulator. Kumbhariya, although a small village is famous because it holds five Jain temples dedicated to different Jain Trthankaras. Koteshwar, three miles away is famous because the hill near the temple of Koteshwar Mahadev is the source of the Saraswati River. Pilgrims usually bathe in the  Kund into which water from the Saraswati flows.