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Bhavnath is a locality in Junagadh city of Gujarat, India. It sits near the Girnar mountain range, close to Girnar Taleti, the place from where pilgrims have to ascend on foot to get to temples on Girnar hills.
There are two main annual festivals: Maha Shivaratri and Girnar Lili Parikrama. Bhavnath Festival, Mahashivratri
The Bhavnath fair is a five-day occasion in Magha month of Hindu calendar, in the month of February-March, culminating with the most auspicious worship of God Shiva, at midnight of Maha Shivaratri, which is thronged by hundreds of Naga Sadhus aked Sadhusof Dashanami Sampradaya, taking dip at Mrgi kund and offering their prayers at the temple. People believe that God Shiva himself visits the shrine here on this holiest day. Devotees go around the holy hills of Girnar, before the fair. Lakhs of pilgrims from Junagadh district of Gujarat
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History
The Bhavnath Mahadev temple is a shrine ensconced in myths and legends of the Puranic era, at the base of Mount Girnar in Bhavnath village. The Shiva ling here is said to have emerged of its own divine intention. Reportedly, when Shiva and Parvati were traveling over the Girnar Hills their divine garment fell over the present Mrgi Kund, making this place an auspicious site for lord Shiva worshipers. Even today, the naga bavas aked sadhusbathe in the holy Mrgi Kund before joining the Mahashivaratri procession. The fair itself is so ancient that its precise origins are unknown. History of Bhavnath at GujaratTourism.com
There are two main annual festivals: Maha Shivaratri and Girnar Lili Parikrama. Bhavnath Festival, Mahashivratri
The Bhavnath fair is a five-day occasion in Magha month of Hindu calendar, in the month of February-March, culminating with the most auspicious worship of God Shiva, at midnight of Maha Shivaratri, which is thronged by hundreds of Naga Sadhus aked Sadhusof Dashanami Sampradaya, taking dip at Mrgi kund and offering their prayers at the temple. People believe that God Shiva himself visits the shrine here on this holiest day. Devotees go around the holy hills of Girnar, before the fair. Lakhs of pilgrims from Mewar
Mewar or Mewad is a region in the south-central part of Rajasthan state of India. It includes the present-day districts of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Pirawa Tehsil of Jhalawar District of Rajasthan, Neemuch and Man ...
, Kutch and Gujarat visit the temple at this time, as also foreign tourists, enchanted by the rosaries and sacred statues sold on stalls, by sellers from far Ayodhya and Mathura and elsewhere, and not to miss display of the Naga sadhus' Hatha yoga
Haṭha yoga is a branch of yoga which uses physical techniques to try to preserve and channel the vital force or energy. The Sanskrit word हठ ''haṭha'' literally means "force", alluding to a system of physical techniques. Some haṭha ...
and such occult practices. The whole place resounds with music and blowing of auspicious conch shells, tungis, and turis, with the Naga Sadhus on their elephants, holding Hindu religious flags in their hands, preceded by a decorated statue of Lord Dattatreya, in a palanquin. /ref>
References
{{reflist Junagadh district Junagadh