Malda, May 14 -- Ahead of the upcoming historic Ramkeli Mela, the Malda Merchants' Chamber of Commerce & Industry has appealed to the West Bengal government to declare the centuries-old fair as a recognised cultural heritage event under the category of "Fairs & Festivals". The organisation has also invited Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to inaugurate the 2026 edition of the mela.

In a memorandum submitted to the state government, it was stated that the Ramkeli Mela has been continuing for more than 500 years and is connected with the visit of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Ramkeli during Jaistha Sankranti.

According to historical belief, at this site, Sri Chaitanya had given Mantra Initiations (Diksha) to two persons who later became renowned as Rup and Sanatan Goswami. The site also went on to become an important Vaishnav pilgrimage centre.

The chamber also highlighted that the footprints of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are preserved at the Madan Mohan Temple in Ramkeli.

"The Ramkeli Mela is not only a major religious gathering but also an important cultural and economic event for the region. Recognition as a cultural heritage fair would help preserve its legacy and boost tourism in Malda," said chamber president Ujjal Saha.

Meanwhile, preparations for this year's Ramkeli Mela have already begun. On Tuesday evening, the Rup Sanatan Milan Mandir Committee organised a preparatory meeting at a diagnostic centre hall in Government Colony, Malda town. The four-day mela, organised under the supervision of the district administration, will be held from June 14 to June 17 at historic Ramkeli in Gour.

Committee members said arrangements are being made to accommodate nearly 10,000 devotees expected to attend the fair from different districts, states and even abroad. "Our goal is to ensure proper accommodation, food and facilities for pilgrims and make the mela spiritually fulfilling and well organised," said committee secretary Bidhan Chandra Roy.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Phani Bhushan Roy, Arun Saha, Raghunath Das, Binoy Kumar Saha and several devotees and organisers associated with the mela committee.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.