107-year-old Jauljibi fair kicks off in Pithoragarh

Pithoragarh: Union minister Ajay Tamta on Wednesday inaugurated the 10-day historical Jauljibi fair at the confluence of rivers Kali and Gori in Pithoragarh district.
Jauljibi town is located along the Nepal border in Dharchula and is 64 km from Pithoragarh town. Jauljibi is known for its rich trading history and was a point of exchange for Tibetan, Nepalese and North Indian traders back in the time.
Although the fair is known to be centuries old, it was officially started in 1911 by the zamindar of Askot.After the annexation of Askot to the Indian state in 1948, the fair was stopped for some time but it was again resumed by the Uttar Pradesh government. The fair is especially famous for raw wool and warm clothes.
Sub-divisional magistrate of Dharchula, RK Pandey, told TOI, “Around 400 shops have been set up in Jauljibi this year and the fair will continue till November 24.”
A trader, Nagendra Kutiyal, said, “Over the years, the fair has lost its old-world charm. Earlier, items made of raw wool, Himalayan herbs used to be on display but now, the products have become mostly synthetic. This happened after the closure of the Indo-Tibetan trade route after the 1962 war. Now, the fair mostly has Chinese items such as jackets, blankets, quilts and other readymade garments.”
Kautiyal added that this year, the number of stalls has also decreased. “The administration has decreased the number of stalls and increased the rent from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,300 this year. Many traders are unhappy with this. The condition of the roads is also so bad that we end up paying heavily on transportation.”
Meanwhile, a local resident added that the venue of the fair should be shifted. “The mela ground is very close to the Pancheshwar dam site and there is a danger of flooding. The administration should keep this in mind and shift the venue next year.”