| Sitabari Fair
Sitabari is a small place near Kelwara village in the Sahabad tehsil of
Kota district and the fair is held from Baisakh Sudi Punam to Jeth Budi
Amavasya. Sitabari is situated in a picturesque forest. According to legend,
it marks the spot where Sita was left by Lakshman at the behest of Rama.
There are four tanks filled by natural springs. The water is said to cure
people of various ailments, particularly mental diseases. The water in
these Kunda is cold in summer and warm in winter and the kunds never go
dry. The Sitabari fair attracts thousands people who take a bath in the
Sita Kund, the Laxman Kund and the Suraj Kund-which are regarded as holy
as the Ganges.
Priesthood at the shrine is hereditary and there
are various priests attached to the kunds. No offerings are made at the
fourth kund which is knows as Bharat Kund because it is considered inauspicious
to do so. |
