Madhavpur Ghed

The seaside village near Porbandar where, by popular tradition, Shri Krishna and Rukmini were married, celebrated every Chaitra with a joyful wedding fair.

Madhavpur is a coastal village in Porbandar district, on the road between Porbandar and Veraval (Somnath), in the area known as Ghed. The Shrimad Bhagavatam tells how Rukmini, princess of Vidarbha, sent a letter begging Shri Krishna to come and claim her, and how the Lord carried her away and married her. The Bhagavatam describes the wedding festivities at Dwarka, but the popular tradition of Saurashtra places the marriage ceremony itself at Madhavpur. Because of this belief, for Gujarati devotees the very name Madhavpur brings to mind "Madhavrai's wedding".

The village has the temple of Madhavraiji, where Krishna is worshipped as Madhavrai. There is an old temple and a newer one close to it, and a lovely stretch of beach lies nearby. Pilgrims also visit the spots that tradition associates with the wedding.

Every year, from around Chaitra Shukla Navami (Ram Navami), the Madhavpur fair is held over several days, celebrating the Lord's marriage with great affection. Madhavraiji's wedding procession (varghodo) goes out, wedding folk songs are sung, and people from the surrounding villages join in as if they themselves were members of the bridegroom's party. Folk dances, bhajans and a lively village bazaar add to the colour.

In recent years the fair has also celebrated the link with Arunachal Pradesh, linked to the tradition that Rukmini came from there. Artists and guests from the North-East now travel to Gujarat to take part, and the fair has become a celebration of affection joining two far ends of the country. This connection rests on tradition and popular belief rather than on the scriptural account.

District

Porbandar