RAMESH SAVAIKAR
The six-day long Chaitri Utsav of Shri Pandurang Devasthan’s Vithal- Rakhumai is on till April 2.
The temple was built around 550 years ago by Rajmata Gajraraje Scindia of Gwalior who was the daughter of Rane family of Sankhali, on the right side bank of Valvanti River. It was renovated in 1942 by the Rane family which migrated from Gwalior to Goa 600 years ago. The Rane family are devotees of God Vithal, whom they consider as their ‘kuldayaivat’. The oldest idol of Vithal was brought by a Pandharpur ‘varkari’ from Goa and was installed on the Valvanti River bank. The area is known as Pandharni and religious rituals are held here.
The ‘pran pratishsthapana’ day of the Vithal-Rakhumai idol which is celebrated annually marks the Chaitri Utsav. On each day, various religious rituals like ‘abhishek’, ‘puja’, offering flowers and fruits, ‘aarti’, prayers, ‘tirth’ ‘prasad’ distribution to devotees are held. Later in the evening, ‘path vachan’ by priest, ‘kirtan’ performance and palanquin procession followed by Dashavtari drama show by Mochemadkar Natya Company marks the traditional feature of celebration. The warrior folk dance of ‘Virbhadra’ (a tradition which came from Karnataka) is also one of the main features of this festival. On the occasion of the festival a big fair selling household utensils, toys, sweets, ice creams, soft drinks etc is held. Devotees from across the state throng to Vithalapur- Sankhali to participate in Chaitri Utsav.
