The Chitra Vichitra Mela, an annual tribal fair, is held in which district of Gujarat?

The Chitra Vichitra Mela is held every year at Gunbhakhari village in Poshina taluka of Sabarkantha district, Gujarat, close to the Rajasthan border. It takes place about a fortnight after Holi, just before the new moon (Amavasya) of the month of Chaitra (March-April).

It is one of the largest tribal fairs of Gujarat. It is attended mainly by the Bhil tribe, along with the Garasia tribes and others from Gujarat and Rajasthan. Tens of thousands of people gather.

The fair is held near the confluence of three rivers: the Sabarmati, the Akul and the Vyakul. The name is linked with the legend of Chitravirya and Vichitravirya, the sons of King Shantanu in the Mahabharata, who are said to have lived and done penance here.

The fair has two sides. On the first day, it is a mourning ritual. Families of people who died during the year gather on the river bank, crying and singing laments, and they offer prayers and immerse the ashes of the dead. On the following days, the atmosphere turns festive. Tribal people dress in bright costumes; women wear heavy silver jewellery and colourful skirts, and men wear blue shirts, dhotis and red or saffron turbans. People dance to drums, buy goods and meet relatives. The fair is also a place where young people traditionally find partners.

Other tribal fairs of Gujarat include the Shamlaji Mela (Aravalli district), the Dang Darbar in Dang district on Holi, and the Tarnetar Mela.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Dang district hosts the Dang Darbar on Holi.
• ✗Kutch hosts the Rann Utsav.
• ✗Porbandar hosts the Madhavpur Mela.