Shrinath Veer Mhaskoba Festival: Celebration Of Lord Kaal Bhairava's Marriage

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Shrinath Mhaskoba is Kal bhairav God who is worshipped by tribal communities of Mhaswad, Borban, and Sonari. Bhairava is known by the names of parabrahman, Dandapani, Heruka and so on.

He is an avatar of Shiva who is associated with destruction of the world. He uses rod to punish sinners and his vehicle is a dog.

Where Is The Temple Of Shrinath Mhaskoba?

The Shrinath Veer Mhaskoba is an avatar of Lord Shiva who is worshipped by the Shepherd Community in the western Maharashtra. This festival celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva for ten days that is well attended by the Veer inhabitants. This village is about 50 km away from Pune and located on the banks of Purnaganga. Festival takes place during the Magh Poornima (full moon of February) & continues for 10 days; the Sunday & the last day being the most prominent of all the events." Dhangar community popularized the festival and worship of Sreenath Veer Mhaskoba.

The Festival Celebrations

The festival is celebrated in the temple. On the day of the wedding, Lord comes in a palanquin between Morning and Afternoon and as he arrives, gulal is splashed every where along with flowers. On the day of marriage, a special dance is performed for Shiva and devotees offer their Prasads to Lord Shiva to appease him.

The festival is held during the Magh Poornima (February full moon), with the final Sunday being the most important day. On the day of the wedding, Lord Shiva is ushered in in a palanquin between morning and Afternoon. It is followed by scattering of red paint and flowers. Devotees bring the palki from Kondit to Veer village walking barefoot, playing tutturi, the village bugle. About 15 lakh devotees gather for this festival, some bring stoves and stay there upto 10 days whereas some return home after some days.

The Gulal is also known as Bhandara which they splash all over. Marriage between Mhaskoba and Jogeshwari goes on for 11 days and nights. While splashing the red gulal, the devotees chant a particular mantra which is "Shrinath Mhaskoba Navane changbhala ". The group of Gods or those in the Gods Costumes perform varieities of dances and musical instruments are played as accompaniments to the dance. The fifth day ceremony is called Bhaknuk where one of the priests who is doing the aggressive Chabina dance with swords. gets possessed by God who comes into him to predict about rains, harvest, catastrophes and happy events which he foresees for the villagers. When the devotee is possessed, he performs stunning sword stunts. ." Something of this kind happens in karnataka and kolhapur as well.

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