Phalguna Mela is the most important festival associated with the temple of

Khatushyam Barbarika (''Barbarīka)'' or Khatu Shyam, is a Hindu deity, particularly worshipped in western India. According to the ''Skanda Purana'', Barbarika was the son of Ghatotkacha (Son of Bhima) and Princess Maurvi, daughter of Daitya Moora, tho ...

and Shyam Temple

Bhatli Bhatli is a town in Bargarh district, Odisha. Geography Bhatli is located in Western Odisha, close to the border of neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh. It is positioned at . The whole of Bargarh district lies in the Deccan plateau with Easter ...

. The festival occurs 8–9 days before the festival of Holi. Barbarika's head appeared on Phalguna Shuddha Ekadashi, the 11th day of the bright half of the Hindu month of

Phalguna Phalguna ( sa, फाल्गुन ) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phalguna is twelfth month of the year, and corresponds with February/March in the Gregorian calendar.Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005) ' ...

. The fair was initially held from the 9th to the 12th of that month, later extended to nearly 12–15 days of the bright half of the Phalguna Month. Pilgrims all over the country attend with ''nishaans'' (holy mark - flags) in their hands. People mark their holy journey by singing ''shyam bhajans'' and playing various musical instruments. They play ''holi'' with ''gulal''. Many Shyam Bhaktas supply food to pedestrians in the shade of tents. They recognize this occasion as the marriage of Khatushyamji. On Dwadashi (the 12th day of the month), ''Bhog'' is prepared as Baba's Prasadi of Kheer and Churama. Two famous Phalguna mela are from

rajastan and

odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

References

{{Reflist, 30em Hindu festivals