REMINISCENCER

Shri Ram Navami Festival (1930 A.D.) : A Report...

The details of this year’s deposits and expenditure have been recorded in the ledger book. This year, many people had come from places like Nanded, Mukhed, Umri, Gavhan, Sangvi, Kalamnuri, Majhor, Mathri, Mumbai, Pune, Yaval, Andheri, Bandra, Indore, Mahu, Khamgaon, Pandharpur, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Puntambe and Handia. Amongst those who come every year, Papalal could not make it this year. The festival started from the 8th day of Chaitra Shukla Paksha (the waxing period of the moon). During these five days, about 3 to 4 thousand people were fed. About a hundred stalls were put up by some people from outside the village during this festival. Arrangements made by the government were also good. In these five days, sweet dishes like ‘jalebi’, ‘boondi’ and ‘sheera’ were prepared. As always, the pantry was managed very well by Govind Vyankati Mahajan (Mukhed) with the help of Chinaiyya Tambola Ramchandra and Malappa. The responsibility of serving up was given to Digambarrao Nandedkar, Rajeshwar, Jagannath Master, Ramrao Varudkar, Diwakar Deshpande and some more people. They did a great job. Baba Ramchandra Patewar could not take part in this due to some problem. One day, the Muslims in the village were served sweet fried rice; this charge went to Nagoba Vanjari, Narayan Vanjari-Maruti and a few more who took it up without making any fuss. About a hundred Muslims partook of this meal. On Ram Navami day, the flags were taken out in a procession in the evening and after that at night, because Hussain Sakkar Dalal could not come, all the Muslims in the village took out the Sandal Wood Procession and offered it on Maharaj’s Samadhi. As Akolekar Daruwala fell sick, his son took charge of the firework’s show. Firework furing the procession and the wrestling competitions were worth watching. This year, the wrestling show was a big success. Reason behind it was that Bapurao Raghoji Borawake, Tatya Ganpati Patil, Vaman Manku, Ramchandradada, Bayaji Sakharam along with some other villagers helped to resolve the differences and got all the villagers together. With Your grace, it went off well. This year we did not receive as much donation as we should have received or receive every year for the wrestling competitions dut to the bad crops. Still the show was a hit. All along the event, it was clear how good the old wrestling techniques can prove to be for our youth to be aware of their physical strength. Hence, the village chiefs should encourage organizations related to this sport. Next year, by Your grace, if we have a good yield of crop then they can think about it. On the full-moon day people belonging to Mahar, Mang, Chambhar, Bhill, Vadari were given ‘halwa’ prasadam (prasadam made of semolina, sugar and nuts) and Raghu Patil, Karbhari Mali, Baburao Nana took charge of this and did it well. Winnowing of rice and pulses was done by Lakshmibai Patil. Palanquin Procession was held on Ekadashi and Gopalkala on Dwadashi. Most of the people returned to their villages after Gopalkala and the rest after Hanuman Jayanti. May Baba bless them, along with their families, who worked so hard to make the celebrations a grand success and also those who rendered financial help. We are Maharaj’s ignorant children, our well-being is in His hands. Knowingly or unknowingly, if we have committed any mistake or have gone wrong somewhere, may we be forgiven - I beseech. Like this, may this Das continue rendering his services, year after year.

A dustspeck at the feet of the saints

Dasganu

- Shri Saileela, year 7, Issue 12

Translated from Marathi into English by

Sumona Bagchi

Back