Preparations are in full swing in Ringas, located in Rajasthan's Sikar district, for the eight-day annual Lakhi Fair at the renowned Bhairun Baba Temple starting September 14. Local authorities and the temple management committee have mobilized extensive arrangements to handle the anticipated surge of pilgrims. Cleanliness and bathing facilities at the sacred Johri water body are being significantly upgraded. To ensure orderly queuing and smooth darshan for visitors, police officials have been instructed to manage security checkpoints and establish dedicated traffic routes around the shrine.
Administrative Arrangements and Pilgrim Amenities
Strict guidelines have been enacted to maintain discipline across the fairgrounds and the Johri precinct. Stray animals are completely banned from entering the main temple zone, while designated parking spaces have been carved out to avoid congestion. The municipal administration has been tasked with overseeing round-the-clock sanitation, organizing temporary vendor stalls, and setting up medical relief camps for emergency aid. Pilgrims from neighboring states including Haryana, Delhi, and Punjab, along with regional visitors from Alwar, Ajmer, and Jaipur, have already started arriving in Ringas. The site's close proximity to the revered Khatu Shyam Ji shrine further amplifies its standing as a major pilgrimage destination.
A 557-Year-Old Legacy and the Celestial Voice
The Bhairun Baba shrine in Ringas carries a history spanning approximately 557 years, surrounding a 550-year-old mystery. According to tradition, after a night ritual, the holy idol was set down on the ground and subsequently could not be moved despite repeated attempts. A divine celestial voice then proclaimed that the location was to be Bhairav Baba's permanent abode. This miraculous event established the site's sanctity, drawing huge crowds during Kalashtami celebrations and the flagship annual Lakhi Fair.
The Fifth Rudravatar and the Mythological Origins
Hindu mythology states that when Lord Brahma's fifth head criticized Lord Shiva, Shiva assumed his fifth Rudravatar form as Bhairav. Lord Bhairav severed Brahma's fifth head using his fingernail, incurring the sin of Brahmahatya. To seek absolution from this curse, Bhairav embarked on a journey across the three realms. Popular belief holds that his earthly pilgrimage originated precisely at Ringas.
Gurjar Pratihar Ancestors and the Temple's Establishment
According to the temple priest, his Gurjar Pratihar ancestors originally hailed from Mandor and worked as cattle herders. They possessed a spherical stone idol that they venerated as Bhairu Baba, carrying it in a shoulder pouch wherever they traveled. While grazing their cattle, they would stop near water bodies, extract the idol for daily worship, and place it back into the pouch before resuming their trek. Moving from Mandor, the ancestors reached a pond in Ringas and stayed overnight. In the morning, after offering prayers, the idol refused to budge from the ground. A heavenly voice echoed, stating that this was the exact location where the earthly journey of atonement for Brahmahatya had begun, and that the deity wished to reside there permanently. Following the omen, the ancestors settled at the spot and initiated formal worship.
The 1669 AD Cenotaph and Traditional Offerings
The third major renovation of the temple complex commenced in 2013. Historically, the shrine sat in an open expanse surrounded by cremation grounds. Just outside the main complex stands a cenotaph dedicated to Sati Mata, carrying an inscription dated 1669 AD that serves as tangible proof of the site's antique heritage. Devotees visiting the shrine customarily present traditional food offerings comprising pua-papdi, bati-bakle, and cloves with sugar candy (laung-patasa) to seek the deity's blessings.
