Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 21: Tarnetar, Surendranagar: On the third day of the world-renowned Tarnetar Fair, a research-based book titled ‘Tarnetar No Melo (Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Panchal Region)’ was formally released at the Trinetreshwar Mahadev temple complex. Authored by Dr. Sheetal Koisha, Director, Young India Research Foundation (YIRF), Gandhinagar, the book examines the history and cultural heritage of the Panchal region. Gujarat Government Minister Darshanaben Vaghela, Surendranagar Member of Parliament Chandubhai Shihora, and MLAs Jagdishbhai Makwana, P. K. Parmar and Prakash Varmora were among those present at the release ceremony.
The book is based on five years of field-based research and documentation undertaken by Dr. Koisha during her doctoral research in the Department of History at Gujarat University. The study focuses on the Tarnetar Fair and the wider Panchal region, documenting its historical background as well as folk traditions, folk songs and dances, rural life, traditional crafts and embroidered wooden umbrellas associated with the fair.
Historical photographs, manuscripts, documentary material and field sketches have been incorporated into the publication to present the changing character of the Tarnetar Fair. The research approaches the fair not only as a religious gathering but also as a tradition closely connected with the social and cultural life of the Panchal region.
Speaking at the release, Dr. Sheetal Koisha said that preservation of local heritage should not remain limited to the continuation of fairs and festivals. Systematic documentation of history, traditions and community life, along with efforts to make such material accessible to younger generations, is equally important. She also shared details of an initiative to make the book available to schools and educational institutions in Surendranagar district.
The book is the outcome of five years of research by Dr. Sheetal Koisha, Director, Young India Research Foundation (YIRF), Gandhinagar, and brings together various dimensions of the folk culture and heritage of the Panchal region as a research reference. Public representatives and members of the academic community present at the ceremony congratulated Dr. Koisha on the publication.
The release of the book during the Tarnetar Fair has added a documentary and academic dimension to the celebration of the region’s longstanding cultural traditions and heritage.
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