Baisakhi fair of Rajgarh is celebrated in the name of Shirgul deity

The Baisakhi fair of Rajgarh is one of the famous ancient fairs of the state. It is called Baisakhi fair because it is organized on the Sankranti of the month of Baisakh, whereas this fair has nothing to do with the Baisakhi festival celebrated in Punjab. In some districts of Himachal Pradesh, the worship of the four ‘Badi Saaji’ deities of the year is considered to be of special importance, among which Baisakh Sankranti, which is also called ‘Bishu ki Saaji’ in the local language, ‘Hariyali Sankranti’ of the month of Shravan, Diwali festival and Makar Sankranti are the prominent ones. Before the existence of Rajgarh city, this fair was celebrated in Kufardhar. Thereafter, this fair started being celebrated on the mound of Sarot adjacent to Rajgarh, where a small Shirgul temple was built by Lala Mansa Ram of Rajgarh. After the existence of Rajgarh city, this fair is being celebrated in Nehru Ground for the last five decades. The elders say that since time immemorial, Rajgarh fair used to be the only source of entertainment for the people of the entire region. They said that people used to enjoy the fair along with paying obeisance at the Shirgul temple on the Sarot dune.
It should be noted that the deity of this region, Shirgul, is believed to have originated in Shaya Chhabrona and Tapasthali Chudchandni mountain, which is about 17 kilometers away from Rajgarh. Shirgul is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
To maintain the ancient dignity of the fair and to make it attractive and entertaining, the state government has given it the status of ‘District Level Baisakhi Fair’. Every year this fair starts from the Sankranti of the month of Baisakh and continues for three days. The fair begins with traditional worship at the Shirgul Devta temple located in Rajgarh city. On the first day of the fair, the palanquin of Shirgul Devta is taken out in the entire city with traditional musical instruments so that all the people who come to the fair can receive the blessings of Shirgul Devta. To make the fair attractive, the fair committee has organized special cultural evenings in which famous folk artists of the state have been invited. On the last day of the fair, on April 16, there will be a huge wrestling competition in which famous wrestlers of North India will participate.