GADAG:Fed up with noisy crowd at markets? Head straight to a Gadag village where a ‘mute fair’ is organised. For two days, there would be pin-drop silence during the ‘mute fair’ celebrations. Making noise during the fair is considered disrespect to the deity.The fair is celebrated every year near Savadi village of Gadag. All the devotees remain silent and the entire congregation looks like a mute show of march.
Nobody sings, prays, chants mantras or sings bhajans here. The devotees observe ‘mouna vrata’ and perform poojas. This is a rare kind of fair being celebrated for many years. During the two-day fair, the entire village becomes empty and people shift towards the temple.
The fair is usually held two days after Chatti Amavasya, hence the fair was celebrated early this week. The fair is called ‘Yarishigemma jaatre’ and the temple where ‘mute fair’ is celebrated is located about 5 km from Savadi village.
“We spend time in the temple and nobody talks. When children cry, parents take them away from the crowd. We return our homes by evening. We believe that the village deity takes care of our homes and belongings when the whole village is away,” said a devotee.Engineering student Sandeep Boonakoppa from Bagalakot, said: “Soundless movement of the crowd thrills me.”