Home › Junagadh Festivals › Bhavnath Mela
FEB–MAR · MAHA SHIVRATRI · GIRNARBhavnath Mela
At the foot of holy Girnar, the Bhavnath Mela lights up Maha Shivratri — five days of bhajans, ash-smeared Naga sadhus and a midnight aarti at the ancient Bhavnath Mahadev shrine.
Shivratri at the foot of Girnar
Where the great hill of Girnar rises from the plain stands the Bhavnath Mahadev temple, and around it, each Maha Shivratri, gathers one of Saurashtra’s most atmospheric fairs. For five days sadhus and pilgrims throng the site; ash-smeared Naga ascetics arrive from their akharas, conches sound, and the celebration builds to a midnight aarti on the night of Shivratri, when a procession of holy men winds down to the shrine.
An ancient gathering of ascetics
Girnar has been a sacred mountain for Hindus and Jains alike for well over two thousand years, and the fair happens in its shadow.
Bhavnath Mahadev, the Shiva temple at the very foot of the mountain, is the centre around which everything is organised.
Maha Shivratri — the great night of Shiva, in February or March — is the night the whole fair builds towards.
Ascetics come down from their akharas for it, and their presence is what makes this mela unlike any other in Gujarat.
Why come
Naga sadhus
Ash-smeared naga sadhus arrive from akharas across India and camp at the foot of the mountain for the duration.
Shivratri
Maha Shivratri is the peak — the fair runs about five days but everything points at that one night.
Girnar foot
Girnar rising directly behind the temple gives the fair a setting no other Gujarat mela can match.
Midnight aarti
The midnight aarti on Shivratri, with the procession of holy men to the shrine, is the moment everyone waits for.
Bhajans
Bhajan and devotional singing run continuously through the nights, in the camps as much as at the temple.
Dhunas
Sacred fires burn in the ascetic camps throughout, and they are a large part of the atmosphere after dark.
What to see
THE MELABhavnath Mela
Five days of fair, camp and worship at the foot of the sacred mountain.
THE HILLGirnar
The mountain rising directly behind the temple, sacred to Hindus and Jains alike.
How it's observed
Reach Bhavnath
Go to Bhavnath Mahadev at the foot of Girnar, where the whole fair is centred.
Feel the fair
Spend an evening among the sadhus and the singing, which is the real texture of this mela.
See the akharas
Walk through the ascetic camps, respectfully — the akharas set up for the duration of the fair.
Wait for midnight
Stay for the midnight aarti on Shivratri, the peak of the five days.
Join the procession
Watch the procession of holy men down to the shrine, which is the fair's defining sight.
Take the darshan
Take darshan at Bhavnath Mahadev itself, though the queue on Shivratri night is very long.
Where seekers gather
Girnar is holy to Hindus and Jains alike, its summit crowned with ancient temples reached by thousands of stone steps. The Bhavnath Mela draws on that sanctity: it is a meeting of akharas and wandering ascetics, a rare public glimpse of India’s renunciate traditions, set against one of Gujarat’s most revered mountains.
More places to visit across the district are gathered in our Junagadh travel guide.
Timing
The mela falls around Maha Shivratri in February or March, set by the lunar calendar — check the dates each year.
November to February is the season for Junagadh and for climbing Girnar, so the fair sits at the end of the best window.
The monsoon turns Girnar green and dramatic, but it is wet, slippery and the wrong time for the mountain.
⏰ The mela runs for about five days around Maha Shivratri (Feb–Mar), peaking at the midnight aarti.
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot / Keshod.
By Rail
Junagadh (~6 km).
By Road
To Bhavnath, Girnar.
More in Junagadh
KARTIK
Girnar Parikrama
Once a year in Kartik, tens of thousands walk the Lili Parikrama — a 36-kilometre circuit through the forests around Mount Girnar, a moving river of pilgrims, fires and folk devotion. Explore →
FOLK
Music & Dandiya
Junagadh keeps the folk beat of Saurashtra alive — dandiya-raas and garba, the soulful dayro of Kathiyawadi singers, and dhol-driven nights where whole towns dance in ring after spinning ring. Explore →
WILD
Lion Country
Junagadh is the old gateway to lion country — the princely city whose Nawab first shielded the last Asiatic lions, and the doorstep to the Gir forest where they still roam. Explore →
SUMMER
Kesar Season
Each summer the orchards around Junagadh and Talala turn golden with Gir Kesar — the saffron-hued “queen of mangoes,” a GI-tagged fruit whose fragrance defines the season. Explore →
What to eat
THALIKathiyawadi Thali
Spicy Saurashtra fare.
GHEVARFair Sweets
From the mela stalls.
GHUGHRAGhughra
Fried sweet parcels.
CHAASChaas
Spiced buttermilk.
Bhavnath Mela FAQ
What is the Bhavnath Mela?
A five-day fair at the Bhavnath Mahadev temple at the foot of Mount Girnar, held around Maha Shivratri, and one of the largest gatherings of ascetics in western India.
When is it held?
Around Maha Shivratri, which falls in February or March depending on the lunar calendar. Confirm the dates for the year you are travelling, as they shift.
Who are the Naga sadhus?
Naga sadhus — ash-smeared renunciate ascetics who come down from their akharas for the fair, camp at the foot of the mountain, and lead the Shivratri procession. They are central to what the mela is.
What is the high point?
The midnight aarti on Shivratri night, preceded by the procession of holy men down to the shrine. The whole five days build towards it.
Where exactly is it?
At Bhavnath, at the very foot of Mount Girnar, about 6 km from Junagadh town and easily reached from there.
Can visitors attend?
Yes. It is a public fair and visitors are welcome, but it becomes extremely crowded on Shivratri night. Dress modestly, ask before photographing the sadhus, and expect to be on your feet for hours.
Across Gujarat
HERITAGEKheda Satyagraha Memorial
Site of Gandhi’s 1918 farmer revolt
COASTGulf Coast & Beaches
Quiet shores & flamingo-rich mudflats
FARMLANDGandevi
Sweet sugar-cane & chikoo country
Khambhat Jain Temples
A medieval Jain constellation — the Khambhat Jain temple cluster, a group of historic tirths in…
MARITIMEAlang
A surreal coast where giant ships are dismantled
GARDENSCactus & Butterfly Gardens
Themed gardens around Ekta Nagar
WHERE TO STAY
Find your stay in Gujarat
Compare live prices across the big booking sites and reserve in a few taps. Booking happens securely on the partner's site — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Book directly on our partner sites — tap a provider to see live Gujarat hotels & prices:
SHOP THE REGION
Bring home Gujarat — & travel essentials
Hand-picked crafts and trip gear, available on Amazon.
Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 3 July 2026