There is a village called ‘Veer’ (Ta. Purandar, Dist. Pune) at a distance of 25 km from Saswad town, the headquarters of Purandar taluka of Pune city and 30 km from Jejuri of Shrikhanderaya, the deity of Maharashtra, on the border of Satara district. On the shore is the holy shrine of Srinath Mhaskoba.
This temple is in the magnificent style of ‘Deulwada’ with stone construction. The temple is surrounded by a high chirebandi bank and has two entrances, east, and south. There are self-made idols of Srinath-Jogeshwari mother in the temple. Srinath is’ Kashi’s Kotwal [Kalbhairavnath] as well as [Sonari’s] Siddhabhairav ‘and due to a devotee named Kamalaji, Veer has settled here. This god has been nicknamed “Mhaskoba” since he appeared in the cemetery.
The wedding ceremony of Srinath Mhaskoba and Goddess Jogeshwari is celebrated every year in the month of Magh at Shrikshetra Veer in a traditional and enthusiastic atmosphere, with the sound of drums and coconuts being played to the accompaniment of “Sawai Sarja Changbhal!” On the day of Rath Saptami, Ghadashi-Gurav distributes the wedding cards of the gods. The annual pilgrimage festival of Srinath Mhaskoba Devasthan begins on Magh Shuddha Chaturdashi with the yellow ceremony of God. On the evening of Chaturdashi, Raut-Mali, the honorable gardener of Veer and Rautwadi, brings Srinath Maharaj in full attire and Adimaya Jogeshwari brings her mother in a sari-choli and turmeric. Guru priests wear yellow garments to God. Turmeric is then applied to the deity by the Suvasini of the Raut congregation. At this time, Suvasini from Veer village and Panchkrushi crowd in Deulwada to plant turmeric.
On the day of the full moon, there is thunder everywhere in the village. Puranpoli sweets are offered and brought to the temple. Because in every house in the village, it is customary to observe ‘5 days fast of God’s marriage’ at least 5 days before the wedding. He leaves fasting on this day. Mahaprasada is arranged by Shri. Dhumal (Wadkar) family in the afternoon for the devotees and brides coming from outside. According to the tradition, palanquins come from Sasankathi and Palkhi Veer of Kodi village for pilgrimage, while palanquins come from Wai, Kanheri, Rajewadi, Bhondwewadi, Sonwadi, and Kasbapeth in Pune for the ceremony.
The procession lasts for ten days from Magh Pournima to Dashami. It also predicts the whole year from Panchami to Dashmi. On the day of Mahashivaratri, the youth of the village, the priests, Ghadashi, Gosavi wash the temple and Deulwada covered with coconut water from dawn. Then the gods are worshiped with curd, milk, ghee, honey, and sugar.
About Vedant Kulakarni
In 2020 I completed Applied Art in Photography with distinction in Kolhapur city. I have been studying photography for the last 5 years. AS Dnyaneshwar Vaidya became a guru and taught him how to do disciplined photography, how to do it, and how to convey it to the people. Travel Photography, Astrophotography, and Landscape Photography. It is trying to showcase the natural, geographical, traditional and historical beauty of our country to the world. 90% of photography is learned through experience.
Photography is an art just like any other art. In my view, a photo is a combination of all these years of hard work, experience, time and money, study, endurance, honesty, so it becomes a photo, so photography and becoming a photographer is not a common art. Going to Ashadhi Wari, Pattankodoli Yatra, Red Festival at Veer, Ganesh Festival, I got a chance to capture the traditions there on my camera.
I also visited Hampi, Konkan, Goa, the Western Ghats for landscape and travel photography. And I won 9 gold medals, 1 silver medal, 1 bronze medal, and 9 other awards in Federation of Indian photography competitions. It is sincerely trying to present the sanctity, culture and beauty of our India to the world through photography.
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