Shoolini fair, which signifies our belief
and faith in our local deity Maa Shoolini has started today on
23-6-12. This fair means colorfulness, excitement, zest & zeal, cultural
programs, different types of rides, Jalebi wala, Gubbare Wala, Maut Ka Kunwa
and many more colors.
The three day Shoolini fair
started amidst great enthusiasm and zeal today in the historic Thodo Ground of
Solan. The whole city has been decorated
with bright lights and looking like a new bride. The festival started with
colorful Shobha Yatra of the presiding Deity. After the Yajna
the August Palanquin (Palaki) of Divinity was taken out from the temple and the
possession covers the rout of Solan City. Many vehicles with decorated with
beautiful seens, predicting the religious and cultural events joins the Shobha
Yatra. Thousands of devotees thronged the temple early morning . People form
Solan, Shimla, Sirmour, Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana joined the festivities.
Cultural nights are organized , where prominent local as well as national artists
perform during the fair.
The Shoolini fair
was started hundreds of years ago to encourage and preserve the culture of the
region.
Events like Thoda, traditional Himachali
archery; wrestling and exhibitions are the other attractions of the fair, which
concludes on Sunday. The devotees of Mata organize Bhandaras (feast) at
many places in the city for the public.
Here are some photographs of Beautiful of
the fair:
Where the whole city is in a kind of spiritual and cultural hangover there are some negative issues related to this sacred occasion. These are like huge uncontrollable gathering, unnecessary trafic jam, intolerable noise pollution, eve teasing, street fights, indiscipline, wastage of food, city full of filth and garbage etc.
Now question arises that, who is
responsible for this? Is it lenience of administration, inability of organizers
or lack of discipline and knowledge among general public?
Many businessman and people due to their
faith organize Bhandaras at many places but the cleanliness of the city is
completely ignored. They do not make provision of dustbins for the empty plates
and cups. Some opens water taps for public directly on the road, and the
garbage and water makes road slippery and very dirty. There are empty plates and cups all over. However some have placed
dustbins but these dustbins were longing for garbage and people irresponsibly throwing
garbage on the road. It is very unfortunate that we worship the goddesses but
we are making her place messy.
Please show that you are not illiterate or
uncivilized.
