BHAGAWAN PARASURAM OF PHEDE

THE PUJA AND FESTIVAL

The routine worship begins at quite early in the morning with the beat of drum, when the image is bathed and offered arati etc. The Dhuparati starts at 8 O' clock with the booning of gun along with the drum. The custom of gun used in the temple is odd, but for a warrior god it certainly adds regality, and heightens his glory. The noon worship with shodasopachara is very important and elaborate rituals are observed. The image in full splendour with grand decorations gives darsan and lifts the souls. The night puja which begins at 8 PM includes the palanquin procession round the shrines is announced by the booning of gun.

Among the periodical festivals, the Parasurama Jayanti called Akshayatritiya is very important and is celebrated on a grand scale with thousands of bhaktas coming from all parts of the state. Distinguished musicians and artistes come from distant places and give performances. Palanquin processions, annadana, discourses etc., are conducted with great eclat. The lalit - a sort of rustic dramatic performance is the star attraction then, and is witnessed by all though begins in the early hours of dawn after the palanquin procession called Chhabina is over. Ganesh Festival, Sivaratri Festival, the death anniversary of Brahmendra swamy are the other important days in the temple calendar; they entertain the devotees with a wide variety of programmes and hence the lusty participation by thousands. And being the only Parasurama kshetra, its attraction is more and eternal too. As the space in the campus being quite inadequate for huge crowds of visitors, many of them return to Chiplun after worshipping the Bhagawan with ritualistic poojas. Another attraction it holds is, there are no fixed rates for several of the sevas conducted in the temple. Devotees offer their mite in cash or kind to perform sevas. As it is the lone kshetra dedicated to Parasuram, its glory never wanes, nor the Bhagawan withholds the granting of boons and blessings on his adorers. A visit worthy shrine; for shrines for Parasuram are few, though he is recognised as an avatar of Lord Srimannarayan.

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