Girnar Mountain Ropeway - rehabilitate jobless Doliwalahs

The Girnar Mountain Ropeway Project will rehabilitate several people who were earning a living by ferrying devotees to the pilgrim centers on palanquin.

These 70 people will be out of job after the ropeway comes from Bhavnath Taleti to Ambaji temple.

As per Latest S K Nanda Interviews, who is Principal Secretary of Forest and environment, said that, When the project was designed in September 1995, it was found that the life span of these Doliwalahs was not more than 50 years, owing to the laborious task of carrying pilgrims up the 2.3 km stretch which had some 5,000 stairs.

“This job was adversely affecting these 70 people who ferried people on a palanquin.”

"Some would be given shops at the Bhavnath Taleti or at the Ambaji temple for snacks, flowers and other offerings for the temple. Some of them will also be employed as cabin operators by the company which will set up the project."

Forest officials said when the project was finalized, there were 95 such Doliwalahs.

However, their number has dwindled and as per the last reports, there were not more than 70 Doliwalahs who were still in the business.

They added that some might even continue in the business only for the weak and disabled pilgrims who want to visit the Jain temples.

The ropeway will be a straight alignment from Bhavnath Taleti and will end at Ambaji Temple.

However, for those wanting to visit the Jain temples, they will have to go down nearly 2,000 steps from the ropeway station.

Officials said, as per an estimate of 100 devotees only 30 visit Jain temple while the rest only visit Ambaji temple.

Somnath Temple Maha Shivaratri Festival Junagadh District News Gujarat India

Over one lakh devotees are expected to offer prayers at the famous Somnath temple in Junagadh district on the auspicious occasion of 'Maha Shivaratri Festival’, sources said.

"The darshan for devotees began early in the morning and nearly one lakh devotees are expected to offer prayer at the Somnath Mandir, which is one of the Jyotirling," sources in the Shree Somnath Trust, which manages the temple said.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, who is the chairman of the Somnath Temple Trust, was among those who offered prayers, they said.

Meanwhile, a procession is to be taken out later this evening in Junagadh City, where a fair will also be held to mark the festival.

Sadhus from across the country will be participating in the procession before taking a dip in 'Mrug Kund Bhavnath Temple' in Junagadh Town, sources said.

Bhavnath Temple Mela Fair Shivratri Festival Junagadh City News Gujarat India

This year at, Bhavnath Mela, Cultural events to add excitement.

Government of Gujarat has organized variety of events during Maha Shivratri Festival Fair 2010 of Bhavnath Mandir in Junagadh City this month.

The cultural programmes will be kicked off in the evening of 8th February. Shree Hariom Pancholi group will present a Shiv Tandav Natika.

On 9th February evening, shri Kirtidan Gadhvi, Rasik Bagthariya and Haji Ramakdu will present Alakh Ni Aradhana programme. On 10th February Shri Dhirubhai Sarvaiya will present laughter programme. On same day shree Bharatdanbhai Gadhvi will present folk tales.

On 11th February, Shri Hardev Raval, Manjulaben Goswami and Mansuridas Desai will present Lok Dayro.

Meanwhile Junagadh District Administration has fixed rickshaw fair during Bhavnath Temple Fair.

Bhavnath Temple Fair Mela Junagadh Tourism Gujarat India

Bhavnath fair has potential to give new life to tourism in Gujarat.

The Juna-gadh ( Old- fort ) is one of the ancient surviving city of India.

Junagadh is situated under the Girnar Parvat & Datar hills; one of the most picturesque towns of Gujarat. The town was called Manipur,Karnakubja, Raivata etc and at present, it is called Junagadh .

It is deeply believed Lord Shiva & Lord Narayana took up their residence in the vicinity of Temple of Bhavnath & Lord Narayana as Damodarji near Damodar Kund . The town is known for its famous ancient rock fort, Buddhist caves, magnificent Jain temples, ancient step wells, Ashoka inscription, colorful religious festival etc. The most famous Bhavnath temple is located at the foot of Girnar, is ancient & the origins are unknown.

The Bhavnath Mela is held here for 5 days. The fair coinciding with the grandiose and very famous festival of Shivratri, Bhavnath fair, is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Thousands sacred saints (Naga Sadhus) do visit Bhavnath during the fair. The saints come from various school of thoughts possesing common belief that the whole world is their home and they do not require any cloth on body. was accepted as part of their way of life.

The Bhavnath Fair is one of the most colorful & vibrant event in many ways. The fair offers true color of the life style of sacred sages of different groups, they gather for a ritual involving a blend of dance and martial arts & the same time passionate and intense.

Above all various colorful communities, tribes & devotees visit with gorgeous ornaments & handicraft wearing which captures the mind, eye & soul of any human being!

The fair conveys the message of richness of our true culture. The fair takes back to our ancient root, customs, practices, ritual, belief, and it offers insight of irresistible Gujarat.

It is very rare & even to imagine. Gujarat is gifted with Bhavnath Fair of Junagadh !!!

Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years. Thousand of foreign tourists book tents and all available accommodation for the festival in year advance, just to the get glimpses of the mystic saints & to see the life style of most sacred sages. The Bhavnath festival has potential to attract thousands of high budget foreign tourists. If Bhavnath fair is marketed correctly at the International tourism fairs and forums such as WTM, ITB-Berlin etc, it can become one of the other major International Fair for Gujarat.

On tourism front, the Government of Gujarat has made a serious effort to promote various destinations of state through events & festivals such as Navaratri, International Kite festival & Tarnetar fair etc. It could be one of the most successful fair of Gujarat & will be a huge attraction of its unique elements of rarity. This could be clubbed to visit other tourist destination of Gujarat.

The tourism professionals & related official bodies need to identify committed tour operators with the help of proper documents, who are working & promoting in these lines presently. There are 100s of travel agents just to sale air ticket, some out bound package tours and LTC tours of various states. This is the avenue that we need to seriously explore to identify the right people, proper foreign contacts with tourism boards & tourism associations and above all a proper marketing company that could handle public relations in many countries.
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The international print & electronic media needs to be galvanized. Special arrangements for foreign tourists to observe the event should be formulated.

Also infrastructure including accommodation and seating arrangements should be developed, some where near the festival starting point.

The state could attract many more thousands of high budget foreign tourists. Gujarat Is felt every where & running far ahead of most states in infrastructure, Industry development, safety , water management , best roads and education etc. Why not tourism?

The Bhavnath fair has potential to become the future of tourism in Gujarat. What Sanjeevani was to Lakshman in Ramayana, Bhavnath fair could be to Gujarat in tourism sector!!!

Bhavnath fair will be held on 9,10,11,12(Shivratri) February in year 2010.

Junagadh City News- Bhavnath Temple(Mandir),Girnar Taleti

Junagadh trust plays by the rule, hands over govt land without fuss.

In a unique incident, a huge piece of government land under private occupation was returned to the rightful owner in Junagadh without any hue and cry.

The credit for this goes to Junagadh Collector Ashwini Kumar and Rupayatan Trust’s chairman Hemant Nanawati. When demanded by the district administration, the trust willingly returned the seven-acre plot to the state government.

The said land is located in Bhavnath Mandir area at the foot of the Girnar Mountain and surrounded by the Gir sanctuary.

The state government has adopted a plan to develop Bhavnath Mandir Area, which hosts two major melas every year, as a pilgrimage and tourist site.

To accommodate lakhs of visitors, it was deemed necessary to spare more land for the mela.

The administration felt the probability of any untoward incident during the gathering and decided to adopt preventive measures.

Ashwini Kumar said: “Earlier, the district administration had freed nearly seven hectares of government land from encroachment. It was decided to provide alternate space to some 200 residents of the area. Therefore, it became imperative to ask the land back from Rupayatan Trust. The trust responded in a positive manner and willingly handed over the plot. We have already implemented our plan and divided the land into nearly 200 plots, which will be allotted to the 200 families. The rehabilitation will be completed by the end of this month.”

Hemant Nanawati said: “Instead of indulging in a legal battle, the trustees took a positive stand and decided to handover the land.

Our policy is clear — we support development and constructive work. So, the trustees unanimously passed a resolution in response to the collector’s letter. Our trust is committed to the development of Bhavnath area, so we extended support to the district administration and the entire procedure was completed within two months without any hurdles.”

Earlier, in 1991, the government had allotted 40 hectares of land to the Rupayatan Trust for educational purpose.

Girnar Hill Mountain Parvat Temple Junagadh(Saurastra) Gujarat

Cracks appear in Sudarshan pond parapet.

Reports of cracks appearing in the parapets of Sudarshan pond sent officials of district administration and Junagadh Municipal Corporation into a tizzy on Wednesday. Inspection on the site did reveal cracks, however, no calamity was reported.

According to district administration officials, incessant rains in the valley of mount Girnar from Wednesday morning inundated Sudarshan pond, located at Bhavnath.

"Residents around the pond were asked to evacuate and the road from Girnar Darwaja to Bhavnath was blocked for some time. However, a major calamity was averted as the rains stopped," said JMC commissioner R M Sharma.

Meanwhile, a retired officer of roads and buildings department of JMC attributed the damage to the wall to random digging by the JMC. "In the past, JMC officials had done substantial amount of digging around the parapets of pond for creating parking lot or erecting stage for cultural programmes during fate. This has done great damage to the pond, causing near calamity like situation," said J N Vasavada.

Mahashivratri - Procession of Naga babas - Bhavnath Temple

Lakhs have thronged Junagadh to attend its famous five day Bhavnath fair which ends on Shivratri with the procession of Naga Babas.These saints are followers of Nag cult and live in thick forests or cave in mountains and hills.

They appear in public only once in a year.This is to attend the procession in the foot of the hill known as Mt. Girnar.The saints live completely bare and are said to possess super natural powers.

These naga babas bathe in a kund here and it is said that even the Lord Shiva comes to bath in the form of Naga baba.The festival ends with the mass bath of bare babas here.

Lots of foreigners attracted by the tales of the supernatural power visit Mt.Girnar.

This year over ten lakh people have visited the fair which is to end tonight. District administration has made special arrangements for the devotees.This place is very near Somnath temple, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of the Lord Shiva.

Though Shivratri is celebrated at Somnath at a big scale, the charm of five day fair shadows events at Somnath temple.The importance of Somnath can be realized from the fact that traditionally, the travel of 12 jyotirlingas start from Somnath Mandir.This is the first Jyotirlinga in the travel circuit.

Narendra Modisir to visit Junagadh on Maha Shivaratri

Junagadh Girnar Taleti Bhavnath Temple:-

Narendra Modisir will become the first Gujarat chief minister to take part in the annual Maha Shivaratri fair held here at the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple at the foothills of Mount Girnar.

In Junagadh,This is most wonderful events at Shivaratri.

The five-day festival of Bhavnath began March 1 with the ‘dvaja’ ceremony (flag hoisting) atop the temple, situated seven kilometres from the city.

The “maha puja” of Lord Shiva takes place at midnight at the temple on the 14th day of the dark half of the month.

On Maha Shivaratri night, sadhus from different parts of the country move towards the fair holding flags and tridents and blowing conch shells.

A palanquin carrying a decorated idol of Lord Dattatreya precedes them. Once the procession ends, the Nagas take a dip at the Mrigi kund in the temple premises.

The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is surrounded by many equally ancient and holy places, all of which snugly rest at the foothills of Girnar. Maha Shivaratri is one of the important annual fairs of Gujarat.