Mota Yax temple is located on Kakadbhit hill about 20 km from Nakhatrana and about 30 km from Bhuj. Mota Yax Fair.
History of Yax Fair
Mota Yax / Jakh Botera / Yax is famous for the Yax fair that is coming in Bhadra month. Yax fair is the biggest fair of Kutch, known as mini Tarnetar. As per the legends Yax Botera are the 72 brothers and warriors. For the tribute of their memory every year in Bhadra month their pady or Jatar ( prasad) is offered by the Mota Yax Bhova Parivar with other people. It is believed that about 1200 years ago this tradition started and still it continues by the people. This fair is held for three days from Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Fair start with Prasad Offering
People enter the fair, starting with buying the Prasad to offer Yax from the outside small shops or handcarts. Some people cook the prasad at home and offer it to Yax. Many prasad items are available like coconut, sweets, insecstick, dhoop etc.One local belief about Yax that people who have much hair fall climb the Kakadbhit hill and offer prasad to the Yax and their hair falling control. Local people called Yax as Jakhdada.
Attractions of the Yax Fair:
Toyshops
Many toy shops are there in the fair. From small children to middle age, a variety of toys there. Nowadays most children like to play with electronic toys, rubber and plastic toys. And many colourful balloons and lighted house, trains, games, dolls and many more other items lure the child. In the biggest fair of Kutch, the shopkeepers are coming from outside of Kutch and they have a new variety to present for buyers.
Cosmetic items
For the girls and women many cosmetic items are available here. Many years ago there was not so much transportation, women not going outside much, so this fair was helpful for them to buy their choice items. They bought it for Navratri and Diwali and for the marriage season. Now we have easy transportation, private vehicles, so many visit this fair. For girls make-up materials, dress, inner wares, Chania choli and many other items to buy.
Ring game buying
The entertainment ring game is liked by many people. The shopkeeper put some item on the floor and from some distance he offer ring to the people who want to get the items. If the person throws the ring on the material properly he/she can take the items with them. Some other this type of shop is there, a bowl of written chits. The shopkeeper takes the 10 or 20 Rupees from the person who wants to open chit. The person opens the chit and the written thing he can take with him. Many children interest in this type of buying. Sometimes they get big costly things. It depends on the luck and shopkeeper’s arrangement.
Home decore items
This fair is held near Navratri and Diwali, so people find beautiful decorative items here. Glass items like cups and saucers, beautiful designed glasses, boxes, mugs, flower pots, plates and many more. Then coming the next item is beautiful Torans for doors decoration. Beads toran, knitted woollen torans, the knitted handkerchiefs to cover pooja thali. For Diwali decoration, people get colourful lights toran also. Small decorative items for cars and bikes also available here. Different types of doormats are bought by people. Many many varieties of decorative items of home and shops here in the fair at reasonable prices..
Rides for children
For the children, full of enjoyment rides here. Separate line in the fair for children rides. Here is the small train, small bike rides, children cars, and a small swimming pool also for children. Middle age children like to sit and jump in a jumping micky mouse. Small wheels also attract the children. The laughter, happiness, some fear, excitement, screaming everything can be seen here.
Big Rides Selfie Point
The most attractive part of the fair is night rides. What a scene of the fair at night!!! Lights of big rides can be seen from a distance. Death-well (show of bikers and cars), giant wheels, cage rides, tora-tora, boat rides and many rides are favourite among youngsters. Screaming and whistling and shouting. This time another new thing is people like to take photos near the rides and lights as their memorable experience. The high view photos are taken by youngsters. They make reels and videos. The area of Rides becomes the selfie point for the people.
Eatery items
Many eatery items here at the road side and shops. Ice cream Parlour, hot roasted corns, boiled and roasted peanuts are the favourite items of the people.
Facilities by the authorities
The Mota Yax fair is the biggest fair of Kutch, so, authorities arrange buses for the people to come easily. ST buses are arranged from the different villages. Private vehicles also run on rent. Ambulances with the team of doctors, police for patrolling, CCTV cameras are arranged. The health and hygiene awareness posters and pamphlets and programs are arranged. Police instruct people to be alert from pocket mars, and mobile robbers. Police on the stage write the complaints of people and try to solve their problems. Sometimes children separate from their parents in this biggest fair. Police and other authorities call their parents speaking on the loud speaker. Safety instructions for the girls and women are provided by the authorities. Nakhatrana Nagarpalika takes care for many other matters related to the fair.
The Mota Yax fair is not just fair but with the trust and tradition we get the glimpse of the culture of the Kutchi people.
