Nauchandi Mela
नवचण्डिका मेला
Nauchandi Gate, Meerut
Statusactive
Genrefairs
Date(s)1672 [1]
BeginsChaitra month Krishna Pratipada
EndsChaitra Poornamasi
FrequencyAnnually
VenueNauchandi Ground
Location(s)Garh Road, Meerut
Coordinates28°58′00″N 77°43′03″E / 28.9667126°N 77.7173716°E / 28.9667126; 77.7173716
CountryIndia
Inaugurated1672 as Animal fair
Organised byMeerut Nagar Nigam

The Nauchandi Mela is an annual fair held at Nauchandi Ground in Meerut.[2][3] The fair stretches for about a month and is organized by the Municipal Corporation of Meerut. It generally starts from the second Sunday after Holi.[2] The main exhibits are the artistic and religious rituals followed in rustic Uttar Pradesh. The fair witness more than 50,000 visitors every year. The Indian Railways' Nauchandi Express train is named after this fair from Meerut to the state capital Lucknow.

History

The fair has a prominent history dating back several hundred years. It started in the year 1672 AD as a one-day cattle trading fair. The fair has been held every year, excluding 1858, the year after 1857 revolt, which started from Meerut.[4] Since then cattle trading has been replaced by a number of other activities. The fair was postponed in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.[5]

Fair

The fair feature shops for Lucknow's Chikan work, Moradabad's brassware, Varanasi's carpets, rugs and silk sarees, Agra's footwear, Meerut's leather items, etc. Meerut's own products like sports goods, scissors, gajaks, nan-khatai are also sold.[3] Giant rides, wheels, circus and various other recreational arenas where artists perform stunts, remains a big attraction of the fair.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Inextive (26 September 2016). "नौचंदी मेले का इतिहास 350 साल पुराना". jagran.com/ (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Nauchandi Mela : Meerut Nagar Nigam" (PDF). meerutnagarnigam.in.
  3. 1 2 "Nauchandi Mela of Meerut". www.indiaprofile.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Nauchandi Fair in Meerut, Historical Significance Nauchandi Fair". www.meerutonline.in. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Meerut's iconic Nauchandi fair may not be held this year, a first in 1,000 years". The Times of India. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Nauchandi Mela 2017 - Nauchandi Mela Meerut - Nauchandi Mela in Uttar Pradesh, India". journeymart.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
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