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The Sitabari Fair is held near village
Kelwara in Baran District. Held usually prior to the Dussehra. Sitabari is considered to be the place where
Sita, the wife of Lord Ram, was left by Lakshman to serve
the period of her banishment. Legend says that a stream
sprouted from the ground where Lakshman shot an arrow to
fetch water for Sita.This stream is called
'Lakshman
Babhuka'.
People visit the kunds (tanks) to take a holy dip for the
purification of the body and soul and to perform oblations
dedicated to the various deities whose images are
installed here.
The
biggest water
tank is the
'Lakshman
Kund'
with one of its gates
called 'Lakshman
Darwaza'
where an idol of Hanuman
is installed.
The Suraj Kund named after the Sun God is surrounded by
verandahs on all sides. Ashes of cremated people are
immersed in the water flowing out of the kund by those who
cannot go to the Ganges for this ritual. In one corner of
the kund, the
'Linga'
or shrine of Lord Shiva is placed. The other two Kunds are
the Sita Kund and the Bharat
Kund. |
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Apart from being a religious gathering,
traders from
nearby districts as well as neighbouring
States come to the fair to sell a variety of goods. Cattle
breeders are also present at the fair selling popular
breeds of cattle from Jhalawar, Aklera, Bundi, Kota,
Bhilwara and Nagaur.
Sitabari is at a distance of 1 kms from
Kelwara. The distance from
Kelwara to
Kota is 117 kms and
buses ply on this route. The number of
buses is increased during the fair, for transporting
thousands of visitors to the event. The nearest rails head
is Baran at a distance of 75 kms from Kelwara. |
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