Himachal Governor inaugurates Minjar Mela at Chowgan, Chamba.

July 25, 2022

Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar inaugurated a week-long Minjar Mela at the historic Chowgan in Chamba.
This was Arlekar’s first visit to Chamba as Governor.
Arlekar also talked about famous art works of the district — Chamba Rumal and Chamba Chappal.
The Governor inaugurated the fair by hoisting the Minjar flag amid traditional ‘Kunjadi Malhar’ singing — a seasonal song of the Chamba region. He also inaugurated exhibitions organised by various departments and social organisations.
Chamba Municipal Council president Neelam Nayyar presented Minjars to the Governor.
The Minjar, which is a silk tassel worn on the costumes by men, women and children during the fair, symbolises maize and paddy shoots.
A procession was also taken out, which passed through the main market of the city to Laxminath temple and reached the Pink Palace.
In Minjar Mela, traditional singers sings ‘Kunjadi Malhar’ in the evenings. Kunjadi refers to Kunja birds (Great Egrets) which fly over the Chowgan ground in the evenings during monsoon and Malhar is the raga for monsoon.
During the time of the royals or before the Partition, Abdals — a community of Muslim singers who had migrated to Chamba state from Avadh — used to sing ‘Kunjadi Malhar’ in the evenings.