Fairs of Arunachal Pradesh are organized with various objectives. The number of fairs called Mela is limited. Fairs are also organised during festivals and other occasions. The regularly organised fairs of Arunachal Pradesh are - Parasuramkunda Mela and Malini Mela. In the pre-independence era the Sadia Mela was well known. The Mishmis and the Adis visited this Mela with their agricultural and other forest products. These fairs were closed down to introduction of currency. Some of the communities still visit the weekly markets in the border areas of the Assam. The peoples of West Kameng and Tawang district have organised winter camps as well as to have interaction with other communities in Assam.
Parasuramkunda Mela
On the Makar Sankranti day in the month of January thousands of pilgrims take holy dip in the Parasuramkunda Lake. It has a popular belief that a holy dip in the kunda on this auspicious day would wash away all the sins. It is situated about 24 kms away on North-East of Tezu. The history is based on a Hindu mythology of Parasuram`s matricide as given in Srimad Bhagavad, Kalika Purana and Mahabharata. A mela is organised for 3-4 days from 13th January. Temporary huts are made for the pilgrims and they are provided with facilities like transport, medical. It is associated with religious faith and beliefs of the people.
According to legend Parashuram killed his mother with an axe at the command of his father. The axe got stuck to his hands. In order to get rid of such sin he came to Brahma Kund in Lohit district. He took a dip and the axe fell from his hands. He picked it up and threw it into the mountains. The axe had split the mountains and the place where it fell became the source of Lohit River. This place is known as Parshuram Kund from that day.
Malini Mela
The Malini Mela is organized in the month of April in the Malinithan temple complex. This temple is situated in the foothills of West Siang district, near the Likabali circle headquarters. Stone curvatures of various deities, gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon were excavated from temple site which has been dated to 13th/14th century AD. The prominent goddess is Goddess Durga who is worshipped in her Shakti form. The mela starts with the celebration of Basanti Puja which is held in the month of February-March. It last for three days. Many make shift stall are erected. These melas are looked after by a local committee. The participants are greatly influenced by the faith and beliefs on the mother goddess.
