About Nauchandi Mela
Nauchandi Mela started in 1672 AD as a one-day affair mainly for
cattle traders. A multitude of activities religious rituals, commercial,
artistic and rustic merriment form part of the fair.The fair
figured during the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 when one of
the prominent figures of the revolt, Nana Saheb, came here to motivate
the locals to raise arms against the British. Except in 1858, a year
after the revolt against the East India Company, the fair has been held
here regularly.
Nauchandi Mela is a rare symbol of communal
harmony with visitors paying obeisance to both the Hindu and Muslim
shrines - the Nauchandi Temple and the Dargah of Bala Mian -
irrespective of the religion they belong to.The Mela is a
delight for the food connoisseur as well. Stalls selling a wide variety
of food items from across India are present.
History of Nauchandi Mela
The fair has its own history and numerous legends and stories are
woven around it. It started in AD 1672 as a one-day affair mainly for
cattle traders but has since undergone many changes. Cattle trading has
been replaced by a multitude of activities-religious rituals, commercial
activity, artistic creativity and rustic merriment.
The mela
also figured during the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 when
one of the prominent figures of the revolt, Nana Saheb, came here to
motivate the locals to raise arms against the British. When the British
regained control, they put up posters of Nana Saheb and his warriors at
the Nauchandi mela to gain favor of the local populace.According to
another story, the East India Company used to put up the fair as a
revenue collection center around 1800. And in 1884, F.N.Wright, the then
collector of Meerut district started a horse exhibition where
thoroughbred stallions were sold. Of course, other activities
commensurate with the mela used to be organized to attract prospective
buyers. The period of the mela stretches for over a month now. Except in
1858, a year after the revolt against the East India Company rule
started from Meerut, the fair has been held here regularly.
Legend and Rituas of Nauchandi Mela
According to one belief, Mandodari, Ravan’s (demon king of Lanka in
the epic Ramayana) wife, was born in a devil’s house in Meerut. She was,
however, a great devotee of goddess Chandi and she had a temple erected
in her honour. A religious festival was held to celebrate this
occasion. Since then the fair has been held every year.
As the
legend of the dargah goes, Syed Salar Masood Ghazi was a commander in
the army of Mahmood of Ghazni who invaded India in AD 1017 and proved
his mettle in the fight against the local king. During the course of a
battle, he lost one of his fingers. Syed Salar subsequently denounced
violence, became an ascetic, and took the name Bala Mian. The present
dargah was built in his memory in AD 1194 by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, at the
spot where his cut finger had fallen during the battle.
The
cultural aspect of the Nauchandi Mela is also as important. Every
evening some cultural program or the other is held, which goes on till
the early hours of the morning. The mela has had the honor of playing
host to artistes like the internationally renowned Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Besides, the mela committee has started a few new events like beauty
contests, honoring the aged, organizing women's conferences, fireworks
and music competitions. Plans are also afoot to set up an art gallery
and museum to preserve the historic, cultural and artistic aspects of
the mela.
While nautankis (melodramas performed by professional
theatre companies) are still staged, the real crowd puller are the
musical program with modern orchestra.
How to Reach Nauchandi Mela
By Air : Meerut is situated very close to New
Delhi, the seat of Indian Government. Delhi Airport is 60 odd Kilometers
from Meerut. Delhi is in turn well connected to rest of India and world
through a range of flights operated by various private and public
carriers. From Delhi, one can hire a cab and reach Meerut in an hour and
half via National Highways 24 and then NH 58.
By Road : Meerut
is well connected to the cities like Mathura, Delhi, Chandigarh,
Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Jhansi and Agra etc. Uttar Pradesh State Road
Transport Corporation plies several buses to these cities. Various
privately run luxury buses are also available.
By Rail: The
nearest railway station is Meerut Cantonment Station that falls on the
busy Delhi-Dehradun line of North Central Railways. Several Passenger as
well as super fast trains connect Meerut to other popular towns and
cities in Uttar Pradesh and rest of India. It has direct connectivity to
cities like Delhi, Ghaziabad, Agra, Jaipur and Lucknow.
