World’s oldest ghost fair is organised in this temple of Madhya Pradesh every year; know everything

Madhya Pradesh is one of the major Indian states dotted with jungles, architectures and temples shrouded in mystery! Another very interesting thing about MP is its ghost fair which is organised every year from the end of January to the middle of February. Many must not be aware of the fact that it is one of the world's oldest ghost fairs and is not meant for the weak hearts!

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This unique fair, steeped in centuries-old spiritual beliefs, takes place in Malajpur Temple, set in the Malajpur village. Every year, the fair attracts pilgrims, mystics, and curious travellers from across the globe.
Let’s know more about this mystical temple fair:

About the Malajpur Ghost FairAlso known as ‘bhooton ka mela’, this fair is organised every year in the village of Malajpur (Betul district), Madhya Pradesh. And to our surprise, Malajpur Ghost Fair has been celebrated in the village for the past 400 years!


This ghost fair is celebrated for three weeks, and people ‘possessed’ by evil spirits, flock the village to get rid of such negative energies. The legend of Malajpur Ghost Fair dates back to the 18th century when a man called Deoji Maharaj with magical powers, visited the village. Locals say that he had unique powers through which he would turn soil into jaggery and stones into coconut!

What to expect?During the fair, numerous possessed people visit here to get a cure. So you really need to be brave to witness all the ghostly drama and the violent spectacle of men and women being dragged by their hair and being beaten. These people are beaten by brooms in the name of exorcism by the temple priest.

The priest, while doing this, keep chanting “Guru Maharaj Deoji Ki Jai” the whole time to fight the evil spirit. It’s a common or usual thing for people living here, but newcomers, it might be scary.
The priest also asks some weird questions to the ‘possessed’ people. A few minutes later, he would say that the said woman or man is actually possessed by some otherworldly entity like a djinn or chudail. And that this is the right place to get rid of these devilish beings.

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The atmosphere during the Malajpur Ghost Fair is electric with anticipation, as villagers and visitors alike come together to celebrate the mystical heritage of their village. Despite its eerie reputation, the fair is quite popular!