RAIGAD

Raigad reflects Maharashtra’s vibrant cultural spirit through a range of fairs and festivals celebrated across its towns and villages. These occasions often bring together religious devotion, seasonal cycles, and community participation, shaping the district’s cultural identity. Prominent festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi, Gudi Padwa, Ashadi Ekadashi, Akshay Tritiya, Navratri, Dussehra, Mahashivratri, Shivaji Jayanti, Makar Sankranti, Nag Panchami, and Vat Purnima are widely observed. However, the district is especially known for the Krishna Janma Utsav, Kankeshwar Jatra, Bomblya Vithoba Jatra, and Chabina Utsav, among others, which highlight its local traditions and historical connections. Together, these celebrations offer insight into the district’s social fabric and collective rhythms of life.

Rituals around birth and death also influence how festivals are observed in Raigad. Most Maharashtrian families follow a 13-day period of withdrawal (called Suyer after a birth and Sutak after a death), during which religious events are avoided.

Chabina Utsav, also known as Mahad chi Jatra, is the annual festival of Vireshwar Maharaj, the gramdevta of Mahad, celebrated on the night of Mahashivratri (February–March). Rooted in deep local belief and emotion, the festival blends ritual, performance, and community participation into a powerful annual gathering.

At the heart of Mahad stands the Vireshwar Maharaj Mandir, believed to date back to the time before Shivaji Maharaj. Located beside a man-made lake, the Mandir is said to have been built using the stone and rubble excavated during the lake’s construction. Inside, the Mandir houses a Shivling, over which a mask of Vireshwar Maharaj is ceremonially placed during Chabina. A rice rangoli is drawn around the Shivling, those selected to create it are considered especially blessed.

A unique highlight of the fair is a stick performance, where participants carry tall, decorated sticks and raise them in choreographed, dance-like movements. The celebration also includes kirtans, lezim, and drumming, creating a rhythm-filled atmosphere.

One of the most emotionally resonant moments of Chabina is the arrival of the Jakhmata Palkhi. Jakhmata Devi, believed to be Vireshwar Maharaj’s sister and the gramdevi of Mahad, is brought to the Mandir in a vibrant procession. The palkhi is brought amidst chants, “Vireshwar Maharajanch Changbhala, Jakhmata Devich Changbhala!” (Hail Vireshwar Maharaj, Hail Jakhamata Devi), demonstrating her visit to her maternal home during the festival. Many other gramdevtas from neighboring villages are also brought to the Mandir as part of the celebrations. Among them, the palkhi of Jholai Devi, which traditionally arrives at midnight, is especially revered.

Beyond the religious rituals, the Chabina fair transforms the Mandir grounds and town center into a festive space. Joy rides, stalls, and local vendors fill the area, drawing people from across communities to take part in this vibrant and inclusive celebration.

While Dahi Handi is celebrated across the country on Janmashtami (usually in August), the version observed in Shrivardhan stands out for its distinct local traditions. On this day, many residents observe a “vrat” (fast), and each neighborhood or pakhadi sets up its own handi.

In the main celebration, groups of 6–7 men, known as Khalu, play traditional instruments like the Sanai, Tasha, and Dholki. Leading the event is a Mundekari who carries a Gadha, depicting the one held by Bhagwan Hanuman. A group follows him in a hand-linked chain, performing a powerful street dance known as Dawan. This energetic dance requires synchronised footwork and strength, and was traditionally performed only by men. While some girls now participate casually, women usually do not take part.

Earlier, the dancers wore white pachangi and performed barefoot on muddy streets. Today, t-shirts and trousers have replaced the traditional attire, though the core ritual remains unchanged. After the dance, young boys form a human pyramid and break the handi in their own pakhadi lanes.

In nearby Alibag Koliwada, the Gopalkala festival has its own twist. Here, participants, known as Gopals, climb a tall pillar coated with grease to reach the handi at the top, transforming the ritual into a Mallakhamb-style endurance test.

In Gawal Ali, a locality in Mahad city, Raigad district, Holi is celebrated with a dramatic and unique tradition. As part of the festival, a momentous battle takes place between Bhagwans and Rakshas, representing the triumph of good over evil. This intense ritual has been followed in the area for many years.

The celebration begins traditionally, with the lighting of the Holi fire, usually in March. As the flames rise, villagers divide themselves into two groups and prepare for a ritual war. Participants throw burning wood and embers at each other, creating a charged and fiery spectacle.

This reenactment of a conflict draws large crowds. While the ritual is performed mostly by young men from the area, onlookers (both locals and visitors) gather to witness the powerful display of devotion, endurance, and practice.

The Shri Kanakeshwar Devasthan Yatra begins on Tripurari Pournima in the month of Kartik (October–November). Hundreds of people from Alibag taluka, along with yatris from Mumbai and Pune, gather to participate in this annual event.

On this day, a decorated palkhi carrying Shri Ganesh is taken out in a grand procession through Awas village, eventually making its way uphill to the Kanakeshwar Mandir. The yatra is marked by collective devotion, rhythmic chants, and a strong sense of community.

Kokan Kala Mahotsav is a cultural festival that celebrates the art, talent, and community work rooted in the Konkan region. Held annually, the festival brings together performers, social workers, artists, and local communities for an evening of recognition and celebration.

The event features an award ceremony that honours individuals and organisations making meaningful contributions to society. Alongside this, the Mahotsav features cultural performances, celebrity appearances, and public participation, creating an atmosphere of shared joy and inspiration.

The event highlights the spirit of service, creativity, and connection in the region. While rooted in tradition, Kokan Kala Mahotsav continues to evolve as a platform where community stories are heard and celebrated.

The Krishna Janma Utsav in Bapatwada, Panvel, has been celebrated for over 300 years. The festival begins on Shravan Vadhya Pratipada (usually in August) and continues for eight days, with nightly kirtans held in the wada.

On the evening of Krishna Janmashtami (usually in August or early September), a palkhi procession carries murtis representing Gokul, including Nand-Yashoda, Purohit, Balkrishna, Balram, Vasudev, Devki, Narad, Gai-Vasru, Gop-Gopika, and Vrindavan, from Kumbharwada to the celebration site. After commemorating the birth of Krishna, a puja is performed with chants of the Vishnusahasranam and offerings of Tulsi leaves.

The next day features a special Kalyache Kirtan (a form of devotional singing), followed by the Dahi Handi event. The murtis brought for the celebrations are then immersed in a water body, and mahaprasad is distributed among attendees.

During the Dahi Handi, a group of participants enters a trance-like state, energetically dancing and striking themselves with leather belts (chabuk). Locals believe this is caused by a temporary possession by Kanhoba’s spirit, known as Kanhobache ware. Once they regain composure, they are honored with a coconut before breaking the handi.

The tradition is closely linked to Kanhobache asthan or Navnathanchi gadi, preserved by 9 to 10 families in Panvel, including the Mahadik, Chavhan, Dabhane, Jadhav, Dhumal, Kalan, Karya Bhagat, and Chintu Kumbhar families. Kanhoba, also revered as Kanifnath, has a samadhi at Madhi in Ahilyanagar district.

In Raigad district, Rushi Panchami is observed on the day after Ganesh Sthapana (first day of Ganesh Chaturthi) during Ganesh Chaturthi, to honour the knowledge and spiritual legacy of the Rushi Munis (sages).

Traditionally, women in Raigad fast on this day. The ritual begins with a bath in a nearby river, followed by the collection and cleaning of five river stones, depicting the Rishis. Strict food rules are followed: grains from bullock-plowed fields are avoided. Instead, women cook rice from manually or tractor-plowed fields and prepare vegetables like Math, Bhindi, Bhopla, Mirchi, Shirali, and Kakdi, all grown on creepers and without animal labor.

The food is flavoured with unprocessed salt and coconut, and in earlier times, was cooked near the river. After offering it as naivedya to the stones, the same food is eaten for lunch, with no dinner taken. The fast concludes the following day.

Today, due to difficulty sourcing specific ingredients, many women (especially in urban parts of Raigad) observe a simplified version of the ritual at home, continuing the tradition in spirit if not in full form.

One of the largest jatras in Raigad district is the Bomblya Vithoba Jatra, held in Sajgaon village near Khopoli. With a history of over 350 years, the jatra begins on Kartik Shudh Ekadashi (October–November) and continues for 15 days.

The origins of this jatra are linked to Sant Tukaram, who once sold red chillies for a living. After villagers in Sajgaon failed to pay him, he is said to have prayed to Devta Vitthal for help in recovering his dues. Locals believe that Vitthal answered his plea, giving rise to the tradition of the fair. Earlier known as the Chavli-Pavlichi Yatra, it came to be called Bomblya Vithoba Jatra, some say from Tukaram Maharaj’s loud calls for payment, or bombalne in Marathi. Others believe the name refers to the large quantities of Bombil (dry fish) sold at the fair.

What began as a modest event has grown into a major marketplace, drawing vendors from over 40 villages. Goods sold at the jatra include bullocks, dry fish, and blankets; earlier ghongdis were common. Today, Khaja and Jalebis are popular sweets sold at the fair, making the Bomblya Vithoba Jatra both a cultural and commercial highlight in the region.