Festivals

Yatra festival at Śrī Kṣetra Theur

Bhādrapada Dvārayātrā (Pilgrimage of Bhādrapada Month)

Dvārayātrā starts from Śrī Kṣetra Theur similar to Śrī Kṣetra Morgaon, on four days from Bhādrapada Shuddha Pratipada to Bhādrapada Shuddha Chaturthi (1st to 4th day of Bright of half of the Bhādrapada Month). The Pirangutkar Deo family performs the Dvārayātrā (four-door pilgrimage) from Pratipada to Chaturthi in the month of Bhādrapada at Theur.

Similarly the families of Hinjavadikar, Urulikar, Jambekar Deo come with the idol of Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī which is in the form of Tāṁdalā received by Śrī Kākā Maharaj Deo.
The Bhogmurti (movable idol for worship) of Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī of Theur is taken in a palanquin to the temple of Goddess Mahatari. On the day of Shuddha Pratipada (first day of bright half) after taking bath and worshiping Lord Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī, the devotees performing Dvārayātrā depart with pomp and show.

It starts when everyone arrives at the Vyāghraśīlā, (tiger turned into a stone) the place where Mahasadhu Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj did austere penance on the banks of Mula-Mutha river. It is also known as the seat of Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj. After worshiping that sacred place, Asarai Devi at Koregaon is worshiped as the First Dvāra (gate of pilgrimage). As per tradition, Worship, singing compositions & distribution of prasad etc. take place. After this the pilgrims return to Śrīkṣetra Theur. On the second day, Ozrai Devi is worshiped in a village called Mhatoba Alandi.

On the day of Chaturthi, there is a palanquin ceremony along with the Dvārayātrā. Mahatari Devi in Acacia forest, being the village deity of Theur village the fourth day worship is performed at that place. This Yatra is performed by the pilgrims by singing various hymns & compositions in the tradition of Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj. Rangolis (traditional decoration art created by using powdered substance) are drawn everywhere as the Yatra comes near the village deity. Firecrackers are set off.

The palanquin rests at a place called Pratham Visava (place for first rest). Finally reaches the temple. At night, Pirangutkar Deo and Hinjavadikar Deo worship Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī and offer food (Prasada). The palanquin of Moraya which takes place on every Vinayaki Chaturthi is completed around 11:30 at night on Bhādrapada Shuddha Chaturthi. At that time Moraya is fully dressed. At 12:00 in the night Members of Pirangutkar Deo and Hinjavadikar Deo perform singing of twenty one verse composition as per the tradition of Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj. It gets almost 6:00 in the morning by the time the last verse is presented. In the end, devotees dance with Tipari ( a small piece of stick) by showring Gulal (a red powder).

On the next day of Bhādrapada Shuddha Panchami Matki Usal (Dish prepared using Moth Bean / pulses) is offered to Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī as per the tradition. Mahaprasad is organized by the Hinjwadikar Deo family on the fifth day. Accepting this prasad, all the pilgrims break their fast of four days and of Chaturthi.

It is believed that as Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj has said in his composition, that the devotees who perform this Char Dvārayātrā (Four Door Pilgrimage) get what is desired.

Day 1: to the East – Temple – Ozrai Devi Place – Koregaon (origin) 8 KM.
Day 2: to the South- Temple – Vanrai Place – (Alandi Mhatobachi) 7 km.
Day 3: to the West – Temple – Manjrai Place – (Manjri B.) 7 km
Day 4: to the North- Temple – Mahatari Aai Place – (Theur) 1 km.

The grandeur of Māgha Yatra (Pilgrimage of Māgha Month)

The beautiful ten armed idol of Gaṇeśa worship in family of Pirangutkar Deo family is taken to Theur to meet Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī on Māgha Shuddha Chaturthi (Fourth day of bright of the Māgha Month) Similarly, Hinjwadikar, Urulikar, Jambekar Deo family come to Śrī Kṣetra Theur with idol of Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī received by Śrī Kākā Maharaj Deo on Māgha Shuddha Tritiya (Third day of bright of the Māgha Month). Abhisheka (Divine Ablution) & Mahanaivedya (Offering of food) takes place at noon on Chaturthi and at night ten armed idol of Gaṇeśa of Pirangutkar Deo family and Tāṁdalā idol received by Śrī Kākā Maharaj Deo are placed in front of the main idol Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī. Dhooparti (waving of a censer of incense around the idol) is performed by singing 21 compositions. The picturesque Chaturthi festival concludes early in the morning on the fifth day i.e. Panchami. Pirangutkar Deo family return back to their village. On the fifth day, the Hinjwadikar Deo family organizes Mahaprasada and concludes the yatra.

After completing the celebration of Māgha Shuddha Panchami (Fifth day of bright of the Māgha Month) at Śrīkṣetra Morgaon, Lord Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī’s arrives at Śrīkṣetra Theur on Māgha Shuddha Aṣṭami (Eighth day of bright of the Māgha Month). During the period of Mahasadhu Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj, he used to travel alone with Moraya tied to his stomach. Later Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj started this yatra with all the devotees. Some time ago, the idol of Lord Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī used to be brought on horseback. Now Moraya is brought in a chariot by Śrī Chinchwad Devasthan Trust. Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī arrives on Māgha Shuddha Aṣṭami, at the Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī temple with ceremonious music at the gate of the village. On that day Lord Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī is fully dressed with jewelry and ornaments of Peshwa period. Dhooparti (waving of a censer of incense around the idol) starts at 11 at night. This Dhooparti ends at 2:30 in the midnight by singing various compositions as per the tradition of Mahasadhu Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj.

A separate Shejarati (waving of a platter containing a lamp around the idol at night) is not performed at night. On the next day Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī along with Lord Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī is worshiped by Śrī Chinchwadkar Deo Maharaj. At noon, Mahaprasad is organized in the hall. Vida (a roll of the leaf of piper-betel) is offered. Thus completing the Māghi Yatra, Lord Śrī Maṁgalamūrtī leaves for Siddhatek around 4:00 pm.

Other Annual Programs

Twelve festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, Padwa, Sankranti are specially organized at Śrīkṣetra Theur. On this occasion, Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī is decorated with jewelry and ornaments of Peshwa period. Śrī Gaṇeśa Yaga is organized on Bhādrapada Shuddha Poornima (Full moon day of the Bhādrapada Month). Special worship of Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī is also done on the day of Deo Deepavali. On the day of Kartik Krishna Aṣṭami (Eighth day of dark half of the Kartik Month) is celebrated by Śrī Chinchwad Devasthan Trust as Śrī Rama Madhav remembrance Day in the memory of Śrīmant Madhavrao Peshwa and Mahasati Ramabai. In this manner, various programs are organized at Śrīkṣetra Theur throughout the year.

Chhabina comes out every Saṁkaṣṭī and Vinayaki Chaturthi. Every year Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī is dressed up and worshiped at every festival.

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