Kishore Amati
As members of the Hindu community celebrate
the beginning of a new year, today on the day of Gudi Padwa, the tiny village
of Kumbharjua is geared up to follow a unique tradition that has been continuing
for the past many centuries. As per tradition, about a week prior to Gudi
Padwa, Shri Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin – the village deity of Kumbharjua
leaves from her temple in Mashel and visits her village, Kumbharjua. Despite
Kumbharjua being well connected by road to Mashel, the devotees follow the
tradition of ferrying her to Kumbharjua by a boat. The palkhi of the deity is
carried and placed under a tree in Kerwado where the deity rests while the
devotees present mythological plays throughout the week till Gudi Padwa. On the
day of Gudi Padwa, in the evening, the deity is worshipped, following which the
deity then goes to each and every house in the village, thereby visiting every
member of the village in a bid to bless them. Regardless of the faith that the
people may follow, members of all community including Catholics and Muslims,
worship the deity and seek blessings from her. After ensuring that every house
in the village is covered, after about 20-22 days, the deity then heads back to
the Shri Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin temple in Mashel.
