Memoir on Thar and

Chief of Veerawow, named Ladhajee, to Bakasir under Marwar (formerly under
Veerawow). Bakasir was a fort erected by Sutojee, and he conveyed the god there, to
have the proceeds of the offerings by devotees; because, while the image was at Godi, the
proceeds were shared directly and indirectly by his brethren. After 12 months from the
time of the image being conveyed to Bakasir, a fair was held; it is said that the image was
buried at the foot of a Nimb tree, and at this fair the image was dug up and exhibited. On
this occasion, a Waneeanee (Wanee woman) called Nawlakhi (possessor of 10 lakhs)
came from Surat, and she was kept waiting by the Chief Sutojee, who demanded 9 lakhs
from her, saying she was an owner of 10 lakhs (a Nawlakhi). She at length gave nine
thousand Rupees, and obtained a sight of the image; at this fair, much must have been
collected. The chief afterwards removed the image to a (Gud) fortress at Veerawow,
where a fair was occasionally held, whenever devotees were found able and willing to
pay the chief sufficiently. Fairs were also held at Morwara under Pahlunpoor, and in the
Purgunna Chharchhat (32 koss from Veerawow). This was done by the chiefs of
Veerawow (named above), to suit the convenience of the followers of the god (the Wania
merchant and others), who paid the chief more, on condition of taking the god there,
whereby they saved themselves a journey to Veerawow over the Runn. The image was
removed to Morwara under an escort of some (100) hundred Sowars. Thousands of
Jogees used to assemble, and lakhs of people assembled. The first fair at Sooegaum, in
Thurr, was held A.D. 1764, and at Morwara in A.D. 1788, 1796, 1810, and 1822. This
was the last at Morwara; one was afterwards held in 1824, at Veerawow. After
Poonjajee’s capture by the ex-Ameers, and death in A.D. 1832, no fair was held. They
say the image is lost, at least no one knows where it is; it appears Poonjajee never
imparted the secret. The way in which the fair was held is described in this way: — the
image used to be buried by Poonjajee, and it is said the god always inspired in a dream,
and told him to find the image at a certain place, which sometimes is said to have varied
from the place where it was originally buried.
The way in which the image came first from Piran Patan is thus told:—there were three
images with a Mussulman, a Turk in the words of the narrator, one of which was bought
by Mejha Sha Wania at Boodesir for 100 Rupees, and established at Godee. This was in
A.D. 1376.
It is said that there was a large diamond stuck up between the eye-brows, whose worth
was said to be incalculable. There are said to have been two smaller diamonds also on the
image on the breasts. The first mentioned diamond is said to have been put on by a Surat
merchant.
This account has been compiled from traditions and personal narratives, from parties who
had seen some of the latter fairs in Morwara at Nuggur Parkur, chiefly from the accounts
of Wanias (or Mehtas, for they are writers), Nensi and Surjee of Veerawow, at present in
the service of the present chief of that place.
<strong>Memoir</strong> on the Thurr and Parkur Districts of Sind. Copyright © www.panhwar.com
Parkur, A. D. 1854.
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