Gopal-Mochan Fair

The district of Ambala comes alive during the Hindu month of Kartik with the Gopal-Mochan Fair near Bilaspur, Jagadhari. The fair is held around the Gopal-Mochan Tank and it attracts a large number of pilgrims. There is a mythological story behind the inception of the fair. It is said, while rescuing Saraswati from Brahma, Shiva managed to struck off Brahma's head. However his body was blackened by the electrifying effect of the lock of hair, which remained in Shiva's hand.

The black scar remained with him until he overheard a cow speaking to her calf. The calf, which was ready to kill his owner to save himself from castration was reasoned by the cow to save him from the sin. The calf replied that he knew a tank where he can clean himself from the sin. The calf accompanied by the cow killed his master the next day and their body turned black in their sins. Both of them cleansed themselves by bathing in the Gopal-Mochan Fair and the whole affair was closely followed by Shiva. Shiva wasted no time to take a dip in the water and to clean himself too. From that onwards the Gopal-Mochan Tank has been considered the most scared water body of the area and the Gopal-Mochan Fair is held near it with great pomp and glory. Pilgrims from distant lands crowd in the area, which is marked by songs, dances, dramas and other cultural events.