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Chitra Vichitra Fair: a night of mourning, a morning of drums
A riverbank that mourns all night and dances from first light
The Chitra Vichitra Fair is an annual tribal fair at Gunbhankhari village in Poshina taluka, Sabarkantha district, in north Gujarat near the Rajasthan border. It takes two days around the first new moon after Holi: 5–6 April 2027 (expected). On the new-moon eve, families who have lost someone in the past year place the ashes in the river and mourn through the night; the next morning the same riverbank turns into a fair of drums and dancing. Most of those who come are Garasia and Bhil, from villages in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The dates follow the new moon; the local organisers' programme is the only announcement.
The legend
The fair takes its name from the brothers Chitravirya and Vichitravirya, sons of King Shantanu in the Mahabharata.
The site is sacred: three rivers, the Sabarmati, Akul and Vyakul, meet here at Gunbhankhari. Most who come are Garasia and Bhil.
Families who have lost someone in the past year come here: on the new-moon eve they place the ashes in the river and mourn through the night.
Customs
Every group's drum
Next morning the fair begins: every group brings its own drum, and the dancing by the main temple goes on for hours.
Turbans and silver
Men wear blue shirts, dhotis and red or saffron turbans; stalls sell silver jewellery and household goods.
Two days on one riverbank
The fair has two parts, and the change from one to the other is the reason it is known.
The first is the night of the new-moon eve. Families who have lost a member during the year come to the river, immerse the ashes and mourn through the night; the Gujarat government's description speaks of women gathering at the river to grieve until morning. This part belongs to the families.
The second begins at first light. Every group brings its own drum, and the dancing by the main temple goes on for hours. Men wear blue shirts, dhotis and red or saffron turbans; stalls sell silver jewellery and household goods. The fair is also a place where families meet and marriages are arranged. The fair draws around 60,000 people, almost all from the surrounding villages.
The place and the name
The site is held sacred because three rivers meet here, among them the Sabarmati; the fair is on the banks of the Wakal. Local tradition names the fair after two brothers of the Mahabharata, the sons of King Shantanu, called here Chitravirya and Vichitravirya; in the epic the elder brother is Chitrangada.
Gunbhankhari lies close to Poshina, a small town in the far north of Sabarkantha district known for its tribal shrines, white sandstone Jain temples and an old Shiva temple. The Garasia and Bhil communities who keep the fair live across this border country of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Visiting respectfully
This is a gathering of local communities, not a staged event.
- Leave the night to the families — The mourning on the new-moon eve is private grief. If you are there, keep your distance and do not photograph people who are mourning.
- Come for the fair — The part to visit is the morning fair of the second day. Ask before taking close-up photos of people, especially women.
- Dates — The fair follows the new moon after Holi, usually from mid-March to early April: 5–6 April 2027 (expected). The only announcement is the local organisers' programme, so confirm locally.
- Crowds — FCDO notes that stampedes have occurred at large religious gatherings. Keep track of your group in the crowd around the temple.
- Other fairs of the region — Tribal fairs of the same belt include the Baneshwar Fair in Rajasthan; Dangs Darbar in south Gujarat falls around Holi. Ambaji, the goddess town of north Gujarat, has its own Bhadarvi Poonam fair.
FAQ
What is Chitra Vichitra?
A two-day tribal fair in north Gujarat: a night of mourning for those who died in the past year, followed by a fair with drums, dancing and stalls.
In which state is the Chitra Vichitra Fair celebrated?
In Gujarat, at Gunbhankhari village in Poshina taluka, Sabarkantha district, near the border with Rajasthan.
When is the Chitra Vichitra Fair 2027?
5–6 April 2027 (expected). It is held around the first new moon after Holi, usually between mid-March and early April.
Who attends the fair?
Mostly Garasia and Bhil families from villages in Gujarat and Rajasthan; the fair draws around 60,000 people.
Where does the name come from?
Local tradition links it to the sons of King Shantanu in the Mahabharata, called here Chitravirya and Vichitravirya (in the epic the elder is Chitrangada).
Sources (4)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.