Mahaveer Ji Fair
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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.
The 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.
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).
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.
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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