WASHIM

Washim reflects Maharashtra’s vibrant cultural spirit through a range of fairs and festivals celebrated across the district. 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 Dwarka Utsav, Shri Balaji Yatra, and Avaliya Maharaj Jatra, 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.

The Avaliya Maharaj Jatra at Kalamatha, located near the Aurangabad–Nagpur highway in Washim district, is a major annual yatra known for the fulfillment of vows (sankalp). Practitioners believe the Mandir is “jagrut” (spiritually awakened) and that heartfelt prayers made here are answered. As a result, thousands of people from across the region gather during the seven-day yatra, which typically takes place in the lunar months of Magh or Phalgun (February–March).

Bhakts visit the Mandir to make vows and return the following year to offer thanks. These offerings vary—some arrive on foot, others pull bullock carts by hand, and many prepare and distribute Puranpoli or Mahaprasad in gratitude. In earlier times, it was customary to drag a cart using a shendi (tuft of hair), but today, a decorated bullock cart is pulled instead, continuing the tradition with reverence.

During the jatra, the entire area along the highway fills with yatris. Prasad offerings have also evolved—where once 101 quintals of sheera (sweet semolina) were distributed, now large quantities of puri, potato curry, and boondi are served to thousands of attendees.

The Avaliya Maharaj Jatra is renowned across Washim district for its spiritual intensity and vow-centered rituals, drawing both longtime bhakts and first-time visitors. The atmosphere is marked by, traditional music, and the continuous stream of yatris moving toward the Mandir. 

Bail Pola is a festival celebrated in Maharashtra to honour and worship bulls for their role in agriculture. In Washim district, farmers bathe and decorate their bulls with ornaments, colourful fabrics, and painted horns, then gather in the evening for a village-wide procession where the bulls are lined up, worshipped, and paraded through the streets with music and fanfare. Local markets in Washim see a surge in bull-decorating items, and the festival becomes a vibrant expression of gratitude, community pride, and rural tradition.

The Davha Yatra is a seven-day annual fair held at Shri Kshetra Dhawa, about seven km from Malegaon in Washim district, in honour of Nathnange (Nagenath) Maharaj, a revered sant whose Samadhi is located here. The festival begins with the distribution of Mahaprasad on the first day, with lines of people gathering from early morning. Throughout the week, religious rituals, kirtans, and community meals take place. The site attracts people from nearby towns and villages, many of whom consider it a sacred vow to attend the yatra annually. The event is deeply rooted in local tradition and continues to be a major cultural and religious gathering in the region.

The Dwarka Utsav in Washim is a vibrant and traditional procession held annually on the second day of the Pola festival (August–September). Organized by the Devpeth and Chamundadevi Shri Krishna Dwarka Utsav Mandal, the event begins with rituals and a grand procession (Shobhayatra) from Devpeth, moving through the town with great fanfare.

The highlight of the celebration is a pictorial replica of Dwarka, decorated with colorful kamtyas (arches) and bright paper ornaments. The procession features bullock carts elaborately adorned by local farmers, as well as dhol-tasha teams, lazim performers, bhajani mandals, and children participating with clay bull figures. Attractive bullock pairs are judged and awarded prizes for their decoration.

The route of the procession includes Katives, Subhash Chowk, Ramesh Talkies, Ganeshpeth, Bagwanpura, Tonggaon Masjid, Mahurves, Dhruv Chowk, Rajni Chowk, N.P. Chowk, Thursday Market, Balu Chowk, and Balaji Mandir, before returning to Devpeth. At various stops, residents gather to welcome the procession and offer refreshments.

Alongside the main event, Tanha-Tanha Pola is celebrated by children who visit neighbors carrying miniature clay bullock carts to receive blessings and sweets. In the evening, Mahaprasad is distributed at the end of the procession. Young participants also celebrate with dandiya, drums, and traditional instruments, adding to the festive spirit. The Dwarka Utsav blends community participation, and rural pride, continuing to be a much-loved celebration in Washim.

The Loni Jatra is a major religious fair held in Loni budruk, Washim district, in honour of Sant Sakharam Maharaj. It takes place annually between Kartika Vad 14 and Margashirsha Sud 2 (October–December), with peak celebrations on Kartika Vad 14 (shraddha), Kartika Vad 30 (death anniversary), and Margashirsha Sud 1. The Sakharam Maharaj Mandir, built in 1845, serves as the focal point of the festival, with its towering 80–90 ft shikhara and golden dome attracting lakhs of people.

The sant is widely revered for fulfilling vows related to childbirth, employment, and health. Practitioners offer prayers and return during the jatra to make offerings upon the fulfillment of their wishes. On Margashirsha Sud 1, the sant’s mask is carried in a grand rath procession in the morning, followed by a palkhi at night. The celebrations conclude the next day with the prakshal pida, the ceremonial washing of the sant’s seat.

The Shri Balaji Yatra is a major annual festival in Washim, held in honour of Shri Balaji, the gramdevta of the town. The celebrations begin on the evening of Kojagiri Purnima (full moon in Ashwin, usually in October) with a Kala Kirtan at the Shri Balaji Mandir, followed by the Gopal Kala (Dahi Handi) event that draws large crowds.

The 15-day yatra extends from Ashwin Purnima to Ashwin Amavasya, concluding around Lakshmi Puja or Diwali. A grand procession is held on the first day, starting at the Balaji Mandir and moving through major locations like Balu Chowk and Shivaji Chowk. Musicians narrate the life story of Shri Krishna, and the streets are filled with singing, vibrant decorations, and festive stalls.

Thousands of bhakts from across Maharashtra participate in the yatra, which combines religious rituals with cultural performances, reaffirming Shri Balaji’s central role in Washim’s spiritual and social life.