[Points: What a fair is—usual occasions on which a fair is held-description of a typical fair—its various features—its importance in rural life.]
A fair is a most welcome break in the drab routine of villagers. There the village artisans find a very good market. Black-smiths, potters, toy-makers and weavers-all of them look forward to a very brisk business when a fair is on. Artisan and businessmen of far and wide also assemble there with their wares and open stalls.
A fair usually marks a sacred occasion. Thus, we have fairs on the occasion of Chaitra or Pous Sankranti, New Year Day and Ratha jatra. Religion in Indian deeply colours the life of the people and nowhere has religion a stronger hold than on our simple quiet, easygoing villagers. Even their fun and diversion are some way linked with religion. It is in the very air of the country.
Last year I was holidaying at Gopalpur, a cosy little village near Burdwan. I had an invitation from my sister. I felt tempted to visit the pous mela (our native name for fair). The mela grounds were a couple of miles away from the village. My little nephews and nices were, greatly excited. So was every child of the village. It was, in fact, a children's day. They would get the best fun out of it.
So off I went to the mela with the children. From a distant we saw the merry-go round. It was a big thrill to whirl round and round till we get dizzy. There was a most tempting array of wooden toys. and clay dolls. My nephew Haru would give me no peace till I bought a big rocking-horse for him. The house-wives crowded round the stalls dealing in brassware or aluminiumware-pots, pans, pitchers or various items of kitchen utensils. Handloom stalls were also heavily patronized. A magician ran a little booth and he let in ten people at a time, charging twentyfive paisa per head. Both children and grown-ups found their mouth watering when they stood before the food stalls rasagollas, jilabis, singaras, begunis-who can resist such delicacies!
It was a most hectic day. Everybody returned home late in the evening tired but happy. The next day life was as quite as ever. Importance of village fairs goes back to far off times. They have a definite place in the life of the villagers. On an occasion like this, the whole village springs to life. Our villages are mostly sleepy fellows. The people do not have much fun or excitement. They see the same faces day after day. They follow the same dull routine all round. A fair is indeed a change in their daily life. The villagers feel for once that the world is much bigger than their village.
