Historic Minjar fair held

Himachal Pradesh Art and Culture

The eight-day long historic Minjar fair concluded with the immersion of minjars in the Ravi. Earlier, a procession was taken out, wherein local deities were carried in palanquins. Chamba MLA Pawan Nayar was the chief guest.
The procession started from the Akhand Chandi complex and reached the Manjari Garden, on the banks of the Ravi. People passed through local bazaars, reciting ‘Kunjadi Malhaar’, the local seasonal song of the region.
On the Ravi bank at the Manjari Garden, prayers were performed with traditional rituals. Minjars were tied to coconuts and immersed in the Ravi by Nayar.
The markets were closed during the day as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of Covid.
Chamba’s famous Minjar festival is believed to have started in the 10th century to mark the victory of Chamba’s King Sahila Varma over the King of Kangra.