Tarnetar Mela, Saurasthra, Gujarat

The three-day fair, held annually in Tarnetar, coincides with the festival at the Trineteshwar temple (three-eyed god Shiva. Villagers from all over Saurashtra, dressed in their traditional costumes and exquisite jewellery, throng Tarnetar during this fair. The fair is a kind of marriage market for the local tribals who visit Tarnetar to find suitable brides. Lively folk songs and dances -- garba, ras, hudo and the Rasada -- are the special attractions of the fair, besides the wonderful Tarnetar Chhatris, umbrellas with intricate embroidery and mirror work. There are also exhibitions of rural handicrafts, a cattle show, and competitive sports.