Shri Jugal Darbar Mela, Bagru

Chaitra Shukla Poornima to Vaishakh Krishna Dwiteeya (Three Days)

The historical and sacred Jugal Darbar Mela organized every year in the town called Bagru situated on Jaipur - Ajmer National Highway no. 8, about 30 km west from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, the biggest state (area wise) of India. Since years the fest has been organized by the combined collaboration of Shri Jugal Darbar Mela Samiti and Bagru Nagar Palika.

During this three days event, on the morning of the first day at 7 o'clock the tableau of the Jugal Darbar is decorated and appareled with beautiful flowers and sparkling clothes. There after the journey of the tableau starts along with the flag hosted by the samiti members with aarti & lawazma (band) and a lot of pomp & show towards the mela premise. This premise is presently situated in the boundaries of the state higher secondary school of Bagru. The tableau passes through all the markets and some important places of the town during which the common people can take blessing of Shree Jugal Darbar. During the trip many groups from the common people and devotees recites badhai gaan in form of folk dances and music including bhajans making spark to the eyes of the viewers. It takes more than two prahar (6 hours) to complete the journey and reach the mela premise at 12 o'clock noon where the samiti members welcome the tableau with flag and loud acclamations it is emplaced in situ following one of the most important ritual of serving big sized jalebees made of desi ghee to the lord Jugal Dargar after which the procedural declaration of commencement of the fest by the samiti is done. Thousands of devotees gather for the evening aarti to take blessings from the Jugal Darbar.

For the safety and security of the devotees and the vendors coming to the fest, extra police force is employed by the police department and a full proof surveillance with the help of some most advanced technologies. Apart from that, some social workers and volunteer groups which include the local businessmen and vendors, try to help the devotees in every manner. Some of them make arrangements for drinking water, cold drinks and lemon juice for free of cost. Department of Ayurveda makes arrangement for a free medical camp and distribute medicines for free.

During the fest many artists perform music and dance for the entertainment of the people coming to the fest. A special musical instrument called Algoza is played by some local rural artist producing melodious sounds during the fest. Since evening to the midnight Ram Leela and Krishna Leela is performed on the stage by the artists called from out of the town. Some guests of the Shri Jugal Darbar Mela Samiti are welcomed and felicitated in between these events. On the other hand the people coming to the fest are seen enjoying themselves with a lot of fun and frolic.

Every year there occur a mass gathering of more than three lack people in this three day fest. Hundreds of games and things for amusement are available for the entertainment of the people; like giant wheel, well of death, mono rail, disco flight ride, etc. A variety of food items including chat-pakaudi and ice-cream & cold drinks are sold by the venders. Small toys and even vehicles are displayed and sold out here. Similar kind of events take place for two days including performance by the artists, felicitation of guests and purchasing of the items by the people and thus all enjoy the fest thoroughly.

Although, some popular events of horse and camel racing used to arrange since many years ago during the fest but in later years due to scarcity of place and due to animal safety laws this kind of events stopped taking place. In similar fashion, the department of health and agriculture used to organise exhibitions for the awareness and spread information regarding health and agriculture. But due to advancements in mobile and internet technology people lost their interest and this kind of events are not seen these days.

On the third day i.e. Vaishakh Krishna Dwitiya afternoon, preparations to return of the tableau to the temple starts. By the evening the tableau is returned with the same kind of aarti-band and pomp & show by taking the same route of markets and important places to the Jugal Darbar temple and seated there again announcing the official completion of the fest. Although, the people continue to enjoy the fest till the night time. Furthermore, the venders who come and attend the fest from out of the town specially who sale toys, articles and utensils made of clay and mud reside there for two to three more days to sell their rest of the products.

Finally, the preparations started by the Shri Jugal Darbar Mela Samiti just after the Holi, are brought to a successful completion after all these events.