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As legend has it the Ravi had its course through the place now known as Chawgan. Ort one side of the river stands the shrine of Rani Champavati and on the other is the famous temple of Hari Rai. A sage was staying at the Champavati temple and every morning he would swim over the river and visit the Hari Rai temple.
As he enjoyed the faith and respect of the Chamba folk, they thought of approaching the Raja to so arrange that the Hari Rai darshan is easily available to him as well as to the people. On the advice of the sage the Raja arranged a week-long yajna (religious sacrifice and oblation) and the Lord Varuna-the god of waters -was prayed for changing the river course. The Lord obliged and the river changed its course. Since then the event began to be celebrated on a mass scale.
"The Minjar fair is also associated with an important event in the history of Chamba State. 'In his fight against a Kangra ruler, Raja Pratap Singh Verman of Chamba emerged victorious and while coming back from Bhatiat, he was given a rousing reception by his people who greeted him with the tentacles of maize and paddy plants.
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