Uttarakhand
Somnath Mela Masi 2023
- 10 May 2023
- 2 min read
Why in News?
On 8 May 2023, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, participating in the historic Somnath Mela Masi 2023, announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh to the Somnath Mela.
Key Points:
- It is worth mentioning that the Somnath Masi Mela is organized on the banks of the river in front of the Someshwar Mahadev temple situated on the other side of the Ramganga River in the village named Masi of Ranikhet Tehsil of Almora district of Kumaon Mandal.
- It starts on the last Sunday of Vaisakh and the mela of the first session is called 'Saltiya Mela'. Its main attraction is the water-throwing competition by throwing stones in the river on this side of the Ramganga in front of the temple of Somnath on the last Monday of Vaisakh.
- This competition takes place between the two factions of Palipchhau, Masiwal and Kanudia. Therefore, the people of both factions come with their respective marks (flags), and drums and stand at a fixed place on the banks of the Ramganga and wait for their signals to start the competition at the appointed time by the chiefs of both factions. As soon as there is a signal from their side by a flag or a whistle, the people of both factions throw big stones into the river with their hands and try to take the thrown water on themselves. This water is considered holy.
