Travel Guide Tarnetar

76 km northeast of Rajkot. Tarnetar is a mythical place in Hindu cosmogony. According to legend, after killing a fish with an arrow through its eyes while blindfolded, Arjuna - considered the greatest archer of all time - was granted the right to marry the king's daughter. Today, a market is held here, selling everything from fabrics and animals to fruit and vegetables and kitchen utensils... But the story goes on. Arjuna was the first to seduce the most beautiful woman with his gifts. Since then, men have had to demonstrate their courage to win the hearts of women. Decked out in their finest finery, the men challenge each other to a variety of competitions: horse racing, camel racing, dancing, archery... At the end of these demonstrations, the women choose their chosen one. The strongest man is usually the most coveted, and has to spurn some of them. The festivities take place every year in August or September, and also include a famous fair (Tarenar Mela) for its multicolored handcrafted parasols (shhatri). Many members of the Bharwad tribe marry at the ancient Trineteshwar temple, dedicated to Shiva, which is surrounded by three reservoirs whose waters are considered sacred.