| Temples & Legends Of Maharashtra |
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| Temples & Legends Of India |
PEDHE-PARASHURAMA |
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most important festival observed here is that of the birth anniversary-jayanti of
Parashurama. This falls on the third day of the first or Shuddha half of the month of
Vaishakha. This day is known as the Akshayyatritiya. The celebrations start from the first
day of the month. Hundreds of devotees gather together from all over the Konkan area. To
accommodate all these guests, large pandals are erected inside the courtyard and on the
areas near it. The first day or Pratipada begins as usual, but instead of the usual arati,
abhisheka is performed on the image. After this is over, a music concert is held in the
Sabhamandap. Singers and instrumentalists from the nearby areas flock here and perform
before the deity. This is considered to be a kind of service, 'seva’ or worship of
the god. The number of artists that come here is surprisingly large and the quality is by
no means low. While the musical performances are going on, the managers of the festival
are busy distributing foodgrains and alms to the sadhus and sanyasins that might have come
to attend the ceremony.
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