Police finalise preps for Chetganj’s Nakataiyya mela

Varanasi: As the Nakataiyya Mela, a prominent fair with a large gathering organised on Karwa Chauth in Chetganj, is falling on Sunday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city is also proposed, police officials on Friday discussed traffic diversion and other plans with the fair's organising committee.
After holding the meeting with the Shri Chetganj Ramlila Committee at his office, additional commissioner of police (law and order) S Chinappa said the fair will start after the PM's departure. However, as some routes like Maldahiya are both on the list of the PM's movement and the Nakataiyya fair, some diversions to avoid inconvenience for fair participants were finalised. He added that fair organisers will also engage volunteers to assist police.
Earlier, Chetganj Ramlila Committee's president Ajay Gupta said, "Initiated by late Baba Fateh Ramji 137 years ago, Chetganj's Ramlila is popular for its Nakataiyya episode, which is organised every year on Karwa Chauth." With support from locals, the committee completed all preparations for the 138th-year fair.
As per the tradition of the fair, he said the Nakataiyya fair will be inaugurated at midnight by the commissioner of police and DM near the Chetganj police station, after which the act of Nakataiyya will be performed. It will be followed by carrying out tableaux. This year, tableaux are coming from east UP districts and MP.