Date of Khatu Shyamji Fair and Festival
Khatu Shyamji Temple is an important pilgrimage site in Rajasthan.Khatu Shyamji Fair and Festival is Coming on February to March Month every Year, and According to Hindu lunar calendar month of Falgun.
About Khatu Shyamji Fair and Festival
There
is a legend attached to the temple as well as the festival. According
to it, Barbarik, Bhima’s grandson was keen to fight with the Pandavas in
the Mahabharata. However, Lord Krishna was not in favor of his
participation. This is because Barbarik was extremely powerful and Lord
Krishna felt that if he participated, the war would end easily in favor
of the Pandavas and justice would not be served. The Lord appeared as a
Brahmin and asked Barbarik for a favor. He agreed and the Lord asked him
to sacrifice himself. Barbarik readily did so. In return, the Lord
placed his head on a hill so that he could see the great battle in the
plains below. He also decreed that Barbarik would be worshipped as
Shyam.
Legend of Khatu Shyamji Fair and Festival
The
legend behind this Khatu Shyamji fair is rooted in the Indian history
since the time of Mahabharata. Before the battle of Mahabharata started,
the grandson of Bhima, Barbarik went to lord Krishna and Pandavas and
he volunteered to fight from their side. Barbarik was very brave and a
great warrior. Lord Shiva and the god of fire blessed him with three
infallible arrows. They also gave him the Bow, which would make him
victorious in all the three worlds. Lord Krishna thought that it would
be unfair as the war might end without justice because Barbarik was very
strong and the battle between the Pandavas and Kaurwas will end in
haste.
Barbarik
wanted to participate in the battle from the side of the loosing end
and he equipped himself with the bow and three arrows and fled on his
horse. Then lord Krishna played a trick. He took the appearance of a
Brahmin to examine his strength and played jokes on him for heading to
the battleground with just three arrows.
Barbarik
then explained the Brahmin that only one arrow was enough to destroy
all the enemies in the war. If he would use all the three arrows, it
would create chaos in all the three worlds. Lord Krishna challenged him
to tie all the leaves of the peepal tree under which he was standing,
with one arrow. Barbarik took one arrow from his quiver and released it
from his bow.
The arrow tied all
the leaves together, but lord Krishna had one leaf under his foot. The
arrow then started revolving around his foot, and he asked the Barbarik,
whom he would favour in the war. Barbarik restated that he would fight
for the side, which loses. Lord Krishna had foreseen the defeat of
Kauravas, he thought if this brave boy joins them, the result would be
in their favour.
The Brahmin
(Lord Krishna) asked for daan from the boy. Barbarik promised to give
him anything he wished for, and then the brahmin asked him for his head
in daan for worshipping the battlefield by sacrificing head of the
bravest Kshatriya. Barbarik readily obeyed him and chopped off his head.
Lord Krishna was enamored with the sacrifice and blessed him with two
boons, namely, first was that he would see the war from the small hill,
on which Krishna had placed his head and the other was that he would be
worshipped as ‘Shyam’ in Kalyug.
Barbarik’s
head was buried in Khatu. After many prolonged period head was found in
the earth when the place was digged. A Brahmin worshipped the head for
many days and then the King of Khatu built a temple and installed the
head "SHISH" on the 11th day of Shukla Paksha in the Kartik month.
Khatu Shyamji Fair and Festival Celebration
The
people participate in the fair with a great zeal, vivacity and
resplendence. Beautifully decorated shops, swings, plays, Tamashas and
sweet tidbits attract not only children but also everyone who comes to
this fair. Children enjoy Joy rides very much; they are also part of
Khatu Shyamji fair in Rajasthan.There are many people take part of Khatu Shyamji Fair and Festival in Rajasthan.During this Festival, people from throughout the world will visit the Shyam temple to get a single glimpse of Baba and to attain blessings of Him during this grand fair.
About Khatu Shyamji
Khatushyamji is the manifestation of Barbarika. He was the grandson of Bheem and son of Ghatothkacha. According to the legend, Barbarika promised her mother to fight for the weaker side in Mahabharata war. Therefore, he decided to fight for Kauravas. Krishna knew that if this happened, Pandavas will lose the battle. Hence, he asked Barbarika to surrender his head as charity. The brave warrior and honest devotee Barbarika immediately chopped off his head. Lord Krishna, impressed with the sacrifice and blessed Barbarika with the boon of being worshipped with his name ‘Shyam’ in Kalyuga. Hence he is popularly worshiped as Khatu Shyam baba or khatu Shyam Naresh. How To Reach Khatu Shyamji Fair and Festival
By Air : The Nearest airport is Jaipur which is 80 kms from Khatu Shyamji. One can board a cab or a bus to reach the desired destination.
By Rail : The Nearest
railway station is Reengus. All the trains running on Delhi route
passes through Reengus. One has to take Taxi, Jeeps etc. for reaching
Khatu Shyamji.
By Road : Delhi to Gurgaon - Manesar - Dharuheda - Bahror - Kotputli - Shahpura - Chandwaji - Choumu - Ringas - Khatu (Approx. 300 km)
Delhi
to Gurgaon - Manesar - Dharuheda - Bahror - Kotputli - Shahpura -
Ajitgarh - Deorala - Shri Madhopur - Ringas - Khatu (Approx. 270 km)
