Chandausi's 62-year Ganesh Chauth fair opens with grand ceremonies and processions

A 62-year-old tradition will come alive in Chandausi when the world-famous Ganesh Chauth fair opens its gates with elaborate ceremonies, carrying forward a legacy that began with a miraculous incident involving a baby elephant and the vision of the town's first MBBS doctor.

The fair, which will be inaugurated on Saturday, has been a fixture in Chandausi town for the past 62 years, with residents and people from surrounding districts eagerly awaiting its arrival each year. The grand event draws lakhs of visitors annually who come to witness both the fair and the massive chariot procession that winds through the town.

The fair traces its origins to the late Dr. Giriraj Kishore Gupta, the first MBBS doctor of the town, who started this celebration from a small venue. What began as a modest affair has grown into a grand spectacle over time. For many years now, the Ganesh Chauth fair has been organized at Ganesh Maidan, becoming a magnet for townsfolk and visitors from neighboring districts alike.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already unveiled a 145-foot-tall statue of Lord Ganesh at the site, underscoring the fair's significance.

The inauguration on Saturday will follow traditional rituals and customs. As is the practice every year, a palanquin carrying Lord Ganesh will first be taken around the town in a procession before being installed at the Ganesh temple. In the evening, representatives of all five religions will cut the ribbon together to inaugurate the fair, presenting a beautiful example of communal harmony and inter-faith unity.

The fair has become renowned for the spirit of brotherhood displayed by people of all faiths. Members of the Muslim community and followers of other religions participate in the Ganesh prayers, while Hindu devotees offer ceremonial sheets at a shrine located within the Ganesh fair grounds, sending a powerful message of religious unity. This tradition of inclusiveness adds extraordinary beauty to the fair's character.

Manoj Kumar Meenu, son of the fair's founder Dr. Giriraj Kishore Gupta, recounts the remarkable story behind the fair's inception. Sixty-two years ago, a baby elephant mysteriously appeared and sat down at the spot where the Ganesh temple now stands. Despite considerable effort, the elephant calf refused to move from that location. When every attempt to make the animal leave failed, Meenu's father made a solemn promise to build a Ganesh temple at that very spot. Only after this vow was made did the baby elephant get up and walk away. True to his word, Dr. Giriraj Kishore Gupta laid the foundation of the Ganesh temple and launched what started as a small fair.

Meenu Gupta shares that his father provided free medical treatment to financially weak patients and would save small amounts from whatever he earned, financing the fair's organization from his own pocket every year. Gradually, the fair began attracting thousands of visitors not just from the vicinity but from distant places as well. As the crowds swelling at the fair grew larger, the venue was shifted to the Ganesh Mela Ground to accommodate the increasing numbers.

Manoj Kumar Meenu recalls that even in earlier times when adequate transportation facilities did not exist and means of travel were limited, thousands of people would cover considerable distances on foot, by horse-drawn carriages, bullock carts and other means to attend the fair with their families. The fair would remain packed with crowds throughout the night. Though Dr. Giriraj Kishore Gupta is no longer present among us today, his memories remain alive in everyone's hearts and will continue to endure forever. His blessings continue to ensure the successful organization of the fair year after year, keeping alive a tradition that has become an integral part of Chandausi's cultural fabric and a symbol of religious harmony in the region.