Festivals
Festivities & Pilgrimages at Śrī Kṣetra Chinchwad
Māgha Yātrā (Gaṇeśa Jayanti)
Māgha Yātrā is similar to Bhādrapada Yātrā in terms of all the arrangements. Only in this Yātrā Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī Murti goes in a chariot instead of a palanquin. The pilgrims go to Pune by the Thergaon road (now Pune-Mumbai road) and then similar to Bhādrapada Yātrā it reaches Morgaon on the third day. There all the programs are performed in proper order. On their way back, they go to Theur on Ashtami (Eighth Day) to visit Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī. The priests there offer Prasad to Śrī Deo Maharaj. Dhooparti is performed. On the second day, after Mahapuja and Prasad, pilgrims go to Siddhatek after performing Mahapuja, Naivedya, Prasad, Dhooparati of Siddhivinayak. Pilgrims on their return journey stay at Pune and return to Chinchwad on Dwadashi(twelfth day).
Jyēṣṭha Yātrā - Pilgrimage in Jyēṣṭha Month
Similar to Bhādrapada and Māgha Yātrā, this Yātrā has all the arrangements. Only the difference is in this Pilgrimage Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī goes to Khar-Narangi in Alibaug by vehicle instead of by palanquin. After offering the worship on the morning of the Jyēṣṭha Shuddha Tritiya (Third Day of bright half of the Jyēṣṭha Month), Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī’s journey starts from Chinchwad to Narangi.
Dvārayātrā - Pilgrimage
Similar to Morgaon, there is tradition of Dvārayātrā in Chinchwad as well. A part (Amsha) of deities installed at Chinchwad by Moraya Gosavi. This Dvārayātrā – pilgrimage is performed for four days from Shravan Shuddha Pratipada to Chaturthi (First to fourth day of the bright half of the Shravan Month). Chinchwadgaon is surrounded by four borders (Pimpri, Wakad, Ravet’s Ramadi Hill and Akurdi). Manjarai and Rama Mahesh on Pimpri road to the east, Asrai and Uma Mahesh on Wakad road to the south, Ozrai and Ratikandarp to the west on Talegaon road and Muktabai and Mahivarah to the north on Akurdi road. During these four days, the deities of all the four directions are worshiped ceremoniously.
After worshiping the ŚrīMaṁgalamūrtī in Deool wada on the first day – Pratipada, some of the water poured on the Sanjivan Shrine of Śrī Moraya Gosavi is keeped for offering by Śrī Deo Maharaj to the deities of Pimpri, Wakad, Ramadi hill in Ravet and Akurdi. During this compositions (Padas) composed by Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj are sung. A small procession of this Yātrā takes place with white flags, a silver stick in the hands of the chopdar, accompanied by umbrellas and musical instruments. There are Pitambar Dhari (yellow silk garment) servants along with it. Compositions began to be sung from the border of Chinchwad after worship. From there, the pilgrimage ends when it reaches the Samadhi temple. On the last day, the ritual of sacrifice (Yajna) takes place. All the Devotees accompanying the Yātrā are invited for Prasada. After returning, Dhooparti is offered in front of the Samadhi temple of Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj Deo I. On that day all the samadhis & all the deities in the temple premises are offered dresses. After this, all the Devotees take the benefit of Mahaprasad at Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī Wāḍā and this Dvārayātrā is concluded.
Bhādrapada Yātrā (Gaṇeśa Chaturthi)
On the Bhādrapada Shuddha Pratipada (first day of the bright half of the Bhādrapada Month) in the morning, after the worship, the palanquin of Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī departs from Chinchwad to Morgaon. It is accompanied by Scholars, Devotees, Servants and other villagers along with the palanquin, having all royal regalia such as flags, royal umbrellas, lamps, various musical instruments etc. The palanquin first arrives at the Shrine of Śrī Moraya Gosavi where they pray to him and distribute Prasada (powdered pulses). Later all the pilgrims and Devotees go outside the village near Deoghar society and Prasada (powdered pulses) is again distributed.
The palanquin takes its first stop at Pune. Kinkhabi – a type of flags and worship materials used to come there from Talegaonkar Dabhade. The palanquin’s second stop is at Saswad. After offering worship at Jejuri, the palanquin reaches Morgaon on the third day (tritiya).
Villagers of Morgaon come in front of Śrī ‘s palanquin with a Chhabina, during which Śrī Deo Maharaj holds Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī around his neck. Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī and Śrī Mayureśvara met ceremoniously with a procession. After Śrī is kept in the ovari (Shed). On the fourth day Chaturthi, Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī is taken for a bath in the Karha river. Śrī Deo Maharaj sprinkles the sacred water-Tirtha on all the Devotees. Devotees also consider it blessed to take a bath in Karha. This is followed by Mahapuja of Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī along with the idol of Mayureśvara. At that time a pair of Dhotis and Maha Dakshina is offered at the feet of Śrī. Then there is a grand feast and prasad is distributed to everyone. At night, a large Dhooparati is offered in the assembly hall in front of Moreśvara.
Traditional Twenty one compositions are sung on this occasion. After Dhooparti (waving of a censer of incense around the idol) prasad (Powdered form of pulses) is distributed. In the morning, Dhooparti and Dance is performed in front of the Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī. On Panchami (fifth day), Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī along with his consorts Siddhibuddhi are taken in a palanquin and taken across the river to Pavli. On the same day, Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī is taken to the palace of the temple. Puja is offered there and food is served to all. Thousands of Devotees from surrounding villages come to take prasad. This ceremony is very spectacular.
Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī departs on the sixth day from Morgaon. While returning, pilgrims take the Darśana of Khandoba of Jejuri and Yamai of Shivarai by keeping Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī in front of them on the sixth and seventh day respectively. On the seventh day the Puṇyatithī Utsava of Śrī Nārāyaṇa Maharaj I is celebrated at Saswad. Staying at Pune, Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī goes to Chinchwad on Tenth day at night. This Yātrā must reach Chinchwad on the tenth day itself. As soon as the palanquin approaches Chinchwad, the villagers welcome the deity and bring Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī to the village by playing instruments. On the way, the local people welcome the palanquin and take darśana.
Vijayadashami / Dussehra festival at Chinchwad
In the Evening on Ashwin Suddha Dashami (Tenth Day of the bright half of the Ashwin Month), Śrī Deo Maharaj and other villagers go for Seemollanghana (tradition to go out of the boundary or limit of the village or place) with the palanquin of Śrī Bhogmurti (Movable Idol). Scholars, Devotees, Servants and other villagers are present at the occasion, along with the palanquin which is adorned with royal regalia such as flags, royal umbrellas, lamps and other musical instruments. Śrī Deo Maharaj carries a beechuva (dagger) in his hand. Along with the palanquin, all the people go outside the village gate to the Kamada Society on the Dussehra ground.
Śrī Deo Maharaj duly worships the Apta tree (Bauhinia racemosa/ bidi leaf tree). All the villagers give each other the leaves of the Apta tree as a symbol of gold. Then the palanquin returns to Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj Sanjeevan Samadhi Temple. Balirana (Symbolic sacrificial ritual) at Wāḍā and Śrī Deo Maharaj gives gold(leaves of the Apta tree) to everyone.
Śrīman Mahasadhu Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj Sanjivan Samadhi Festival
Śrīman Mahasadhu Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj took Sanjivan Samadhi on Mārgaśīrṣa Vadya Shashti (sixth day of dark half of the Mārgaśīrṣa Month) on the bank of Pavana river in the year 1561 AD.
Sanjivan Samadhi Festival of Śrīman Mahasadhu Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj is the biggest celebrated festival of Chinchwad Devasthan. From Mārgaśīrṣa Vadya Tritiya to Shashti (Third to sixth day of the dark half of the Mārgaśīrṣa Month), there exists a lot of excitement and enthusiasm in Chinchwad. Lakhs of Devotees take a divine Darśana & Mahaprasad during the festival of Sanjivan Samadhi. Lamp decoration is delightful to watch. Cultural, religious, historical, medical, social awareness programs are organized by the trust during the festival. Divine songs and compositions composed by Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj, Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj Deo, Śrī Dharnidhar Maharaj Deo are performed during the festival. There is a tradition to recite these compositions on special occasions. The singing of these compositions is called Dhooparati. Dhooparati of these twenty one compositions are sung in front of the Samadhi Shrine of Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj.
Puṇyatithī Utsava celebration & Other Festivities
Paush Vadya Chaturthi (Fourth day of the dark half of the Paush Month) is the Puṇyatithī Utsava of Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj Deo I. A one day ceremony is also organized at that time. The Puṇyatithī Utsava of Śrī Nārāyaṇa Maharaj Deo I is celebrated on Bhādrapada Suddha Saptami (Seventh day of bright half of the Bhādrapada Month) at Saswad. At that time the Deo Maharaj are on pilgrimage. Puṇyatithī Utsavas of other Seven saints are also celebrated.
Special worship of Śrīman Mahasadhu Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj and Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī is performed during various festivities. In the month of Chaitra, Haldi Kunku (social gathering of married women exchanging turmeric and vermilion powder) of Chaitra gauri is organized at Sri Maṁgalamūrtī Wada. Holika Dahan is also performed. Saraswati Poojan is performed in Vedapathshala at Shri Maṁgalamūrtī Wada. During Ganga Dussehra, Shri Dev Maharaj worships the river Pavana. During Diwali, the deities are decorated with rich clothes and traditional ornaments.
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