Minjar fair concludes with grand procession

The eight-day-long Minjar fair concluded with great splendour on Sunday in Chamba, as the traditional immersion of ‘minjars’ — silken tassels symbolising the blooming of maize — was performed along the banks of the Ravi river.

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania led the colourful Shobha Yatra (grand procession), joined by MLAs Neeraj Nayyar, Dr Hans Raj, DS Thakur and former MLA Pawan Nayyar. The procession featured palanquins of local deities, vibrant cultural troupes, police and home guard platoons, NCC cadets from Government Senior Secondary School, Chamba, and enthusiastic participation from the public.

The yatra moved through the main market and reached Manjari Garden by the Ravi riverbank. There, Speaker Pathania performed the ritual worship and immersed the ‘minjar’ — tied with a coconut — into the river, following age-old tradition.

Adding to the festive spirit, local folk artists performed traditional Kunjdi-Malhar songs, delighting the audience. Earlier, at the historic Chaugan ground, the Speaker also witnessed wrestling bouts, a popular feature of the fair’s sports segment.