KOLHAPUR - MAHALAKSHMI

These are the daily rites observed. There are other periodic features connected with the temple rituals. First there is the ‘palkhi’. On every Friday evening the utsavamurti, a smaller replica of the main idol, is placed in a palanquin. A procession is taken out to the accompaniment of music and singing. The procession visits a number of deities in the courtyard and returns to the garbhagriha, where after singing the arati the celebration comes to an end. Except in the rainy season this palkhi is taken out on every full-moon day also. There also used to take place a chariot festival or 'rathotsava’ on the full moon day of the month of Ashvin. Now that practice is changed, and it is observed on the full moon day of Chaitra. On the fifth day of the month of Ashvin the devi goes to meet Tryambuli, a goddess whose seat is on the nearby Tembalai Hill. The festival of Vijayadashami and the Navaratra preceding it are celebrated with great pomp and ceremony. After performing the traditional crossing of the borders, ‘seemollanghan’, the goddess returns via the locality of the untouchables where they welcome it most enthusiastically.

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