KHANDOBA - JEJURI

Various bhajans and dance parties perform before the procession, necessarily holding up the advance. It is not before two or three in the afternoon that the palkhi comes down from the hill. Here immense quantities of dried coconut and halad are thrown over the palkhi turning everything yellow. From here it takes about two hours for the palkhi to reach the river Karha. It is placed on the banks of the river and the devotees bring water in their palms and pour it over the images. This goes on for some four or five hours when the home ward march begins.

This is as slow as the downward trip. By ten o’clock it reaches the village and it is another three hours before the palanquin reaches the temple, The miling mass of humanity bathed in the yellow of halad not consisting of vaghes and muralis, take part in these concerts. These are considered to be a service to the deity. The crowed gathered for the fair enjoys this displayed and music. In the morning the priests distribute prasad consisting of jowar and halad mixed together. This the recipients carry home and place in their grain-stores. The gods return to their respective abodes and the festival ends.

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]