Bijnor Diaries : Kartik Poornima Mela

Taking holy dip in mother Ganga is considered highly meritorious and pious activity in Indian tradition. Mother Ganga since her advent by Bhagirath's effort has been the bedrock of our civilization. Countless sages, kings and ordinary persons have found motherly love in her heart. Its a rare luck and privilege that i have always found myself very close to mother Ganga. My Janmbhoomi (Kanpur), Gyanbhoomi (Varanasi) and now Karmbhoomi (Bijnor) all are situated close to mother Ganga. I was never a Karmakandi kind of person and i never followed strict adherence of any ritual but i always enjoy and cherish the living traditions of our faith and civilization like Ram Leela, Kaanvad Yatra, Ganga Snan Mela etc.

 

Mother Ganga enters Uttar Pradesh from Uttarakhand at Haridwar-Bijnor border and from there it makes the western border of Bijnor. Numerous temples, ghats and places of religious significance dot this border. The most famous are Vidur Kuti in Bijnor, Shukartal in Muzaffarnagar and Garh Mukteshwar in Hapur.

 

 

'Vidur Kuti Ganga Snan Mela' during Kaartik Poornima is of huge significance for people of Bijnor. This year it started on 23rd Nov and completed on 27th Nov (on Kartik Poornima). We made elaborate arrangements for this Mela and it was never boring. I actually enjoyed being part of this Mela. A large number of people from all castes and almost all age groups came to attend this Mela. As per my conservative estimates about 3-4 lakhs people took dip in Ganges. There were shops and there were shivirs and there were camps. Many thousands made their own tent and stayed in Mela for 3-4 days. There were buffaloes, cattle and there were tractors too. There was no fight, no rush and no drama. All came with faith in mother and mother showered love to all without any discrimination. On one side of Ganga ji is Muzaffarnagar district. According to Mahabharata, Mahatama Vidur crossed Ganga ji from Hastinapur Kingdom and lived his life in a Kuti (Cottage) on the bank of Ganga ji (in Bijnor) when the war started hence it is called Vidur Kuti. 

 

Apart from this great Mela there are other melas too in Bijnor viz Balabali Ganga Mela (Mandawar PS) and Nangal Ganga Mela (Nangal PS). These two melas are also at the bank of Ganga ji and are north of Vidur Kuti bordering Haridwar district of Uttarakhand.

Narnaur Mela in Chandpur PS area (Jaleelpur Block) is also a big mela. This borders Hastinapur. As Ganga ji shifted its course so now this Mela is organized in the territory of Meerut but this time Bijnor Police did all the arrangements.

People of Bijnor are very friendly, humble, polite and religious. It gives an immense sense of satisfaction to work among them and try to make their lives little more comfortable. After all blessings of mother Ganga is always there for all of us.