Khatima. You must have heard about all the fairs organized in Uttarakhand, but have you ever heard about the Water chestnut fair? In Khatima, which is identified as a Tharu tribal area, a Ganga bathing fair is held on the banks of the Jhankaiya Sharda river on the India-Nepal border, which is also known as the Water chestnut fair. This fair lasts for about 10 days every year. In this fair held amidst dense forests, people come from Uttarakhand as well as Uttar Pradesh and neighboring country Nepal to buy water chestnuts. People and farmers of the Tharu tribe follow the ancient barter system and buy water chestnuts in exchange for paddy and other grains.
Water chestnut fair is organized on the occasion of Kartik Purnima on the India-Nepal border in Khatima tehsil of Udham Singh Nagar district. This fair is held on the banks of Sharda river. Apart from Uttarakhand, water chestnut traders from many districts of Uttar Pradesh including Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur come to this fair which is held in the middle of dense forests for about 10 days. Water chestnuts are also bought and available through barter.
water chestnut instead of grain
Thousands of people from Nepal also come to this fair to buy water chestnuts. The tradition of bartering is still seen in the Singhada fair. Nepali citizens and farmers of Tharu tribe buy water chestnuts in exchange for grains and take them to their homes. Lakhs of people come to this fair held every year. Here water chestnuts are sold according to quintals. Water chestnut traders are expecting good sales in the fair. The ancient tradition of exchanging one thing for another is still being seen in this fair, which is keeping the cultural heritage and culture of India alive.
FIRST PUBLISHED : November 23, 2024, 7:13 PM IST
