Unseasonal rainfall has spoiled the reputation of the well-known Vautha Fair in Gujarat, as traders and visitors were not able to enjoy the annual festivals of the state due to poor weather conditions. The fair, which is one of the biggest cultural and religious events in the area, recorded waterlogging and muddy grounds as well as low attendance since the showers kept falling on the ground without any prior notice.
The fair is held annually at the confluence of seven rivers near the Vautha village in Dholka taluka of the Ahmedabad district, attracting thousands of pilgrims, traders at the same time, as well as tourists around the state. This year, it rained rather suddenly and left the fairgrounds as one big stretch of mud, which made locomotion on the part of the visitors and carrying out the business on the part of the traders a hard challenge. The music and lights that normally characterize the occasion and the markets seemed drab and gloomy in the grey skies.
Local merchants, most of whom travel considerable distances to peddle products like handicrafts, toys, kitchenware, clothes, and traditional goods, were so disappointed. It not only causes damage to a number of stalls and merchandise but also makes people avoid coming out. To most of the small vendors who are relying on the fair to take up the better part of their yearly earnings, this sudden weather comes off as a great loss.
It also hit hard on the animal market, which is one of the major attractions of the Vautha Fair, where thousands of camels, donkeys, and other livestock are traded. Terrain and the absence of cover for the animals presented a logistical problem to the sellers and buyers. Some of the traders claimed that the terrible conditions caused them to leave early or even relocate to high places to save their animals and goods.
Local citizens and officials have been in efforts to deal with the situation by pumping away water in the key areas and providing safety to tourists. Tents and drainage facilities are in place to assist in recovery, but ongoing rainfall has hampered the efforts. Authorities have advised tourists to be careful and to do away with congestion in areas that have been flooded in the fairgrounds.
In spite of the interruption, some of the followers still visited the religious ceremonies of the fair, prioritizing religion and culture over the weather conditions. Nevertheless, the general attendance is still low.
The Vautha Fair is a centuries-old practice that represents cultural cohesiveness and spirituality, and has hardly encountered a blow. Not only business and attendance, but also the unseasonal rains have also brought forth the way in which alterations in weather patterns are starting to impact old age traditions throughout Gujarat.
