Masani Fair

The Masani Fair is really an exceptional religious fair dedicated to Masani - the goddess of the small pox. The Masani Mela or the Sheetla Mela is held every year in the Gurgaon village. Devotees come to offer their pujas in the temple of Shri Sheetla Mata with the belief that she will protect them from the the dangerous disease.

Like most of the religious fairs, the Masani Fair is also attached to a legendary story. It is said that once the village of Kespour had a temple of Masani Devi. The goddess said to have expressed the desire to leave Kesopur to a man called Singha in his dream. She also instructed her to build one temple for her in his village that is Gurgaon. Singha followed her instructions and gradually the fame of the temple spread like wild fire.

The Masani Fair is held during the month of April or May and people, especially women from far and wide come to pray for their close ones. The area adopts a festive atmosphere during the fair with the typical north Indian carnival flavor. Folk songs, dramas, dances, stalls selling various products, cultural functions and wandering Sanyasis are the common sights during the fair. The children join in the festivities with their parents. If you get an opportunity to visit the Masani Fair, you get to see a different side of Haryana's rural culture.