RAS question
The Beneshwar Fair in southern Rajasthan is held at the confluence of which rivers?
Correct answer: (C) Mahi, Som, and Jakham.
The Beneshwar Fair in southern Rajasthan is held at the Triveni confluence of the Mahi, Som and Jakham rivers near Beneshwar Dham.
Explanation
The Beneshwar Fair is closely tied to the geography of its site. It is held at Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur district, on an island at the confluence of the Mahi, Som and Jakham rivers. The Devasthan Department's report on Beneshwar Dham identifies this Triveni confluence as a place of religious importance. The fair runs from Magh Ekadashi to Magh Purnima and reaches its climax on Purnima, when devotees bathe in the sacred waters of the confluence. This is why Mahi, Som and Jakham is the only complete answer; a pair such as Som and Mahi omits the third river. The report describes it as the biggest tribal fair; it is also called the Kumbh of tribal communities and has a special association with the Bhil and Garasia communities.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Berach and Gambhiri do not form the Triveni confluence at Beneshwar Dham, which comprises the Mahi, Som and Jakham rivers.
- (B) Luni and Jawai are associated with western Rajasthan; the Beneshwar Fair is held in Dungarpur at the confluence of the Mahi, Som and Jakham rivers.
- (D) The confluence of the Chambal and Banas rivers is not associated with Beneshwar Dham, which is identified with the confluence of the Mahi, Som and Jakham rivers.
Concept
This question tests Rajasthan's fairs and festivals by asking where they are held. Such questions recur in RAS because fairs are often linked with their district, tribal communities and nearby rivers. Beneshwar is especially important for the exam because its tribal fair is held at the Triveni confluence in southern Rajasthan.