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Place
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Tithi
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Next
Dates
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MAHAVEER
JI
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Chaitra
- S 9-15
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2-8th
April 2001
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21-27th
April 2002
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The Shri Mahavirji Fair is held from Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi
to Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya (march - April ) to commemorate
the memory of Shri Mahavir Swami, the 24th tirthankara (saint)
of the Jains, in Chandangaon. Among the visitors to the
fair are the principal followers of Mahavir Swami - the
Digambar Jains, who come from far and wide to pay homage
to the Saint at the shrine.
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Mahaveer
Ji Deity
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Mahavirji temple is located in an enclosure known as 'katala'
and houses the image of Mahavir Swami believed to have been
dug out by a leather worker from 'Devta-Ka-Tila', a nearby
hillock. |
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Procession
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The pilgrims gather at the temple to worship, meditate and
seek the blessings of the saint with folded hands. The image
of Mahavirji is washed early in the morning, the ritual
being called prakshalan. This is followed by pujan and ashta-argha
(eight oblations).
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In the evening aarti is performed. Ghee deepaks are lit and
the offerings comprise of rice, white and yellow flowers,
sandalwood, camphor, saffron, mishri (crystallised sugar),
and dry fruits. |
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The
fair of Mahavirji reaches its peak on Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya
when the image of the deity is taken to the bank of river
Gambhiri in a grand procession for Kalash Abhishek. The
golden chariot (rath) is drawn by bullocks. Four persons
wave chanvars (fly whisks) over the image and the site resounds
with "bhajans" and religious songs with intermittent
solgans of 'Shri Mahavir Swami Ki jai. After the ceremony,
the procession returns with the same gradeur and the image
is restored at the vedi of the temple.
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