Baneshwar Temples
Distance : 60km from Dungarpur
Baneshwar- located 60 Km from Dungarpur, it literally means Lord of
the Delta (ban:delta, and eshwar:lord) deriving its name from the Shiv
Linga. This city of temples dedicated to various Hindu dieties, is
located at the confluence of the Som and Mahi rivers.
¤ Baneshwar Temple and Vishnu Temple
The temple has Islamic influences in the play of colour and design,
with various artistic patterns in pink, blue and green. Two disciples
of Mavji called Aje and Vaje built the Lakshmi Narayan Temple at the
confluence of the rivers. Another important temple here is that of
Lord Brahma (the Creator of the Hindu Trinity of
Creator-Preserver-Destroyer), a large and spacious temple with two
storeys and intricately carved pillars and gateways.
¤ Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Baneshwar is between the months of Jan-Feb
when the Baneshwar Fair takes place on the day of the consecration of
the idol. It is one of the most important and biggest Bhil festivals
in Rajasthan.
¤ Baneshwar Fair
Baneshwar Fair one of the biggest Bhil festivals in Rajasthan, takes
place each year on the day of the pran pratishta (consecration) of the
idol. The priest locally known as the mathadhish arrives from Sabla in
a long procession. A 16cm silver idol of Mavji is brought on horseback
to the fair. Locals here believe that after the priest bathes in the
river the water becomes holier, and this is enough for the people here
to take a dip or two to purify themselves. The ceremony starts with
the application of saffron on the Shiva linga (phallus) after it has
been bathed and the ritual worship has been completed. The evening
sees the application of bhabut or ash on the linga. Worshippers bring
wheat flour, pulses, rice, salt, ghee, coconut, ghee, and chillies as
offerings to the Lord. At night the raslila (local performance of the
episode of Lord Krishna where he dances with the milkmaids) is
performed quite boisterously while the attending Bhils sing
traditional songs sitting around a bonfire. The fair is lively event
of songs, magic shows, folk dances, swings and merry go rounds for
children along with a great deal of buying and selling of local
handicrafts and fancy tidbits.
Baneshwar or the Lord of the Delta (ban: delta, and eshwar: lord) is
what it literally means, deriving its name from the Shiv Linga at the
Baneshwar Temple that lies right at the confluence of the Som and Mahi
rivers. The Baneshwar Fair is also held here at this confluence from
Magh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Poornima (falls more or less in
the month of February). The fair is actually a combination of two
fairs – one held in honour of Baneshwar Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and
the other which was started by Jankunwari, daughter-in-law of Mavji,
who built the nearby Vishnu temple. Mavji was an esteemed saint who
was considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and the temple was
erected at the spot where Mavji used to meditate.
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