Vadbhag Singh Sodhi
Shrine
Shrine
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[thumb\|[Punjabi folk religion](/wiki/Punjabi_folk_religion "Punjabi folk religion") shrine dedicated to the veneration of Vadbhag Singh located in Kartarpur, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.](/wiki/File:Guru_Bhag_Singh_Kartarpur_Punjab_India.JPG "Guru Bhag Singh Kartarpur Punjab India.JPG")
Dera Baba Badbhag Singh Gurudwara ([Devanagari](/wiki/Devanagari "Devanagari"): डेरा बाबा बड़भाग सिंह) ([Gurmukhi](/wiki/Gurmukhi "Gurmukhi")): ਡੇਰਾ ਬਾਬਾ ਬਡਭਾਗ ਸਿੰਘ is a shrine of [Dera](/wiki/Dera_%28organization%29 "Dera (organization)") Baba Vadbhag Singh. It is located in Mairi village in the Indian state of [Himachal Pradesh](/wiki/State_of_Himachal_Pradesh "State of Himachal Pradesh"). It is known for Holi mela. Visitors come from North Indian states and union territories including [Jammu and Kashmir](/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir_%28union_territory%29 "Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)"), [Punjab](/wiki/Punjab "Punjab"), [Haryana](/wiki/Haryana "Haryana"), [Delhi](/wiki/Delhi "Delhi"), [Chandigarh](/wiki/Chandigarh "Chandigarh") and [Himachal Pradesh](/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh "Himachal Pradesh"). The shrine is about 10 km from [Amb](/wiki/Amb%2C_India "Amb, India"). Nehrian, a small hilly village serves as an entry point to the Holy place. Followers believe visiting the *dera* (shrine) cure patients possessed by evil spirits or affected with other malign influences.He is worshipped by both sikhs and Hindus.

### Hola Mohalla fair

The Hola Mohalla fair is held at Dera Vadbhag Singh on the full moon day in the [Vikrami](/wiki/Vikram_Samvat "Vikram Samvat") month of [Phalgun](/wiki/Falgun "Falgun") (February–March). The fair lasts for ten days, i.e. a week before the full\-moon and two days after. The fair is attended by those possessed people and their relatives or who seek protection against similar malign influences. Most of the women who attend the fair are possessed.

The *dolis* (afflicted persons) are seated in rows while metal platters and drums are beaten to charm the evil spirits. During the drumming, the *dolis* who continue tossing and swaying their heads about are made to inhale the smoke of burning incense. A number of methods are adopted to torture the evil spirits until they leave the body. At that stage the spirit is asked to proceed to the *dhaulidhar* (waterfall) to which it agrees. The spirit is then questioned whether it has arrived and sees Baba Vadbhag Singh with a cage. When the spirit replies in the affirmative, it is asked to enter the cage and to request Baba Ji to shut the cage. The *dolis* is then seen to have recovered. Every visitor who attends the fair pays obeisance at the shrine besides taking a holy bath at the *dhaulidhar* or *charan ganga,* especially on the full moon–day. The devotees take the *dhaulidhar* [sacred water](/wiki/Holy_water%23Sikhism "Holy water#Sikhism") home. The most important ceremony at the shrine is the hoisting of the flag *Nishan Sahib*. It is done on the full moon day. The old Nishan Sahib is retired after recitation of supplication. The devotees try to obtain a piece of the old cloth or various other articles attached to the old flag, such as [cowrie](/wiki/Cowrie "Cowrie") shells, [betelnuts](/wiki/Areca_nut "Areca nut"), or coins. Possession of these is regarded as a boon. A young pine tree that may be as tall as ., and whose trunk measures  in diameter is earmarked every third year to serve as a flagpole for the Nishan Sahib. *[Lacs](/wiki/Lakh "Lakh")* of people attend the fair from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Himachal. The Sikhs of [Doaba](/wiki/Doaba "Doaba"), [Majha](/wiki/Majha "Majha") and [Malwa](/wiki/Malwa "Malwa") tracts of Punjab especially are votaries of Vadbhag Singh and attend the fair in large numbers.

### Nearby places

* Chintpurni Temple
* Kamakhya Devi, Poliyan
* Sadashiv Mandir, Dhyunsar

Who is Vadbhag Singh and what is he worshipped for?