When is the Gotmar festival in 2026?

In 2026, Gotmar Mela falls on Saturday, 12 September, at Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh. It is always held on the day after Bhadrapada Amavasya, the day following the Pola festival, so it lands in late August or September each year.

What is the Gotmar festival?

Gotmar, meaning stone-hitting, is a centuries-old fair in which the people of Pandhurna and Sawargaon throw stones at each other across the Jam river for a single day. It is tied to the worship of the goddess Chandika Mata and draws thousands of onlookers. It is intense and injuries are common, so it is best understood as a cultural phenomenon to witness from a safe distance, not to take part in.

What is the love story behind Gotmar?

As the villages tell it, a young man of Pandhurna and a young woman of Sawargaon fell in love. The girl's family opposed the match, and as the couple tried to cross the Jam river to elope, the two sides pelted stones. The lovers died in the river, and the people of Pandhurna carried them to the Chandika Mata temple. The festival re-enacts that day, with the flag on the pole standing for the young woman.

What happens on the day of Gotmar?

A tall palash pole with a flag is fixed in the middle of the Jam river. After the morning worship of Chandika Mata, around 10 am the two sides begin throwing stones. Pandhurna tries to reach the pole, seize the flag and carry it to the Chandika temple, while Sawargaon defends it. The fair ends either when Pandhurna takes the flag, or at sunset if they cannot.

Where does the Gotmar festival take place?

Gotmar takes place at Pandhurna, on the Jam river, in the Pandhurna district of Madhya Pradesh, near the Maharashtra border. The nearest major city is Nagpur, roughly a couple of hours away.

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