Ramkeli Mela
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| Ramkeli Mela রামকেলি মেলা | |
|---|---|
| Status | active |
| Genre | Fair, Religious gathering |
| Frequency | Every years |
| Locations | Ramkeli, Malda district, West Bengal |
| Coordinates | 24°53′22″N 88°07′43″E / 24.8894498°N 88.1287061°E |
| Country | India |
| Previous event | 2022 |
| Next event | 2025 |
Ramkeli Mela[1] (Bengali: রামকেলি মেলা) is a pilgrimage and fair of Hinduism. On the occasion of this fair, devout Hindus come to Ramkeli.[2] Generally the Ramkeli fair is organized every year at Ramkeli. Ramkeli is known as the Gupto Vrindavan[3] (Secret Vrindavan), an important pilgrimage site for the Vaishnavism.[4]
The fair starts every year on Joishtho Sankranti of Bengali calendar,[5] and lasts for 7 days.[2] It is the largest fair and religious gathering in Malda district and one of the largest in West Bengal.
Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami, known as Mahavaishnavas, were included in the cabinet of Gauda ruler Husain Shah. They established the Madanmohan Temple at Ramkeli in 1509. During his journey to Vrindavan, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu met two Mahavaishnavas Rupa Goswami and Sanatan Goswami. On 15 June 1515, he met on Jaishtha Sankranti under the Kelikdamba (Mitragyna parvifolia) and Tamal (Diospyros montana) trees adjacent to the Madanamohan temple at Ramkeli village.[3] Festivals or fairs have been held at Ramkeli for more than 500 years to celebrate this meeting of Mahaprabhu and Rupa-Sanatan.[2][6][7][8]
