Question

Which of the following best captures the cultural essence and rituals of Baran's Dol Mela in Rajasthan?

• A. The fair opens with Dev Viman stunts by akhada artists and concludes with an Amavasya night immersion across the city.
• B. Lord Shreeji and Raghunathji's processions on Jaljhulani Gyaras attract traders from several states.
• C. Known as Annapurna Gyaras, Baran's Dol Mela is celebrated only in Madhya Pradesh after the monsoon harvest.
• D. Held between Shravan and Ashwin, the event is led by monks in caves, separate from temple traditions.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Lord Shreeji and Raghunathji's processions on Jaljhulani Gyaras attract traders from several states.

• Dol Mela is a significant religious and cultural fair held annually in the Baran district of Rajasthan.

• The festival is primarily dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Rama, locally revered as Shreeji and Raghunathji.

• The highlight of the event is the Jaljhulani Gyaras (also known as Parsva Ekadashi), which falls on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada.

• During this ritual, the idols of the deities are taken out in grand, ornate processions known as 'Dol', which are carried to nearby water bodies for a ceremonial bath.

• The fair serves as a major commercial hub, attracting a large number of traders, artisans, and merchants from Rajasthan and neighboring states like Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.