Mass ‘Kanya Pujan’ in Mandi entered in Limca Book records :

1. Kanya Pujan, organised at mass level by the district administration during the Shivrari fair on March 2019 year, has been recorded in the Limca Book of World Records.

2. DC Mandi has received a letter about it being registered in Limca Book 2020. To leave the message of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao in society, the district administration had organised Group Kanya Pujan in which 1,008 ‘kanyas’ (little girls between 4-10) were worshipped. The idea and efforts of the DC were appreciated.

3. DC also congratulated the people as well as his team of officials, who did the task successfully. He stated that it was a collective effort to motivate the people to save the girl child and educate them in society. 

About Mandi Shivaratri Fair

Mandi Shivaratri Fair is an annual renowned international fair that is held for 7 days starting with the Hindu festival of Shivaratri, in the Mandi town of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

The Mandi Shivaratri fair is held as per Hindu calendar every year on the Krishna paksha 13th day/13th night (breaking fast/'vrata' on 14th after sunrise) of the waning moon in the month of Phalguna that corresponds to February/March as per Gregorian calendar. The festival’s popularity is widespread and hence is known as an international festival. In view of the large number of gods and goddesses that are invited to the festival from its 81 temples, Mandi town has the title of 'Varanasi of the Hills'. During 2016, the festival will be celebrated from 7 March (Shivaratri day) for seven days till 14 March 2016.

The Mandi festival or fair is particularly famous as the special fair transforms Mandi town into a venue of grand celebration when all gods and goddesses, said to be more than 200 deities of the Mandi district assemble here, starting with the day of Shivaratri. Mandi town located on the banks of the Beas River, popularly known as the "cathedral of temples", is one of the oldest towns of Himachal Pradesh with about 81 temples of different gods and goddesses in its periphery. There are several legends linked to the celebration of this event. The festival is centred on the protector deity of Mandi "Mado Rai" (Lord Vishnu) and Lord Shiva of the Bhootnath temple in Mandi.