Ayodha Mela: Celebrating One’s Work

“Hinduism is not a religion; it is a way of life”, an amiable History teacher once told a bunch of fifth graders. Shocked and confused I returned home that day and exclaimed, “Mom, we have no religion! Hinduism is just some ‘way of life’”. She tried suppressing a smile and explained how we celebrate festivals and worship different gods, respecting all alike. Unconvinced, I asked her why we could not worship just one god and follow one set of commandments. Smiling from ear to ear, she replied that if we did, it would mean missing out sweets on Ganesh Chaturthi, Sankrant, Shivratri and Guru Poornima. It was a bad idea, I thought to myself, and carried on.

But, ever since then Hinduism has never ceased to surprise me with its utter richness, in terms of the people it reaches out to and the way it embraces everyone. Though criticized for fragmenting the society into castes, Hinduism has managed to maintain the diversity of the land, like no other place on earth.

In the morning, people start with washing their respective instruments by which they earn their bread and butter. Shopkeepers clean their shops, rickshaw pullers their vehicles, cooks their utensils and so on. Later, they worship the instruments and pray to Lord Ram, goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati for blessings. A mere tradition on the outset, the festival is in fact a way of appreciating ones work and respecting it. From blacksmiths to wealthy businessmen, this festival is celebrated with immense devotion and happiness throughout the state.

In Ayodhya, the celebrations get grander with the spectacular Ayudha Mela In the evening, the town decks up for a remarkable fair. From swings to sweets, from toys to magic tricks, the Ayudha Mela promises a gala time for everyone. Amidst cheers, laughter and songs, one cannot miss the picture of thousands of people celebrating life to the fullest. Be it the indigenous wooden merry-go-rounds on which kids rejoice or intricate carvings on wooden boxes put up for sale, several assortments at the fair will surprise you with the talent of people here. The mood is festive and the celebrations simply live up to the spirit of the people. There are musical performances and incredible delicacies to enjoy. The celebrations however do not cease with the fair. The next day, the entire country comes together to celebrate another major Hindu festival, Dussehra, which commemorates the victory of good over evil.

This Navratras, visit Lord Rama’s city and be a part of one of the most vibrant fairs of North India. Plan your trip today and book flight and bus tickets only on MakeMyTrip.com!