Huljanti Bhandara Festival : Bhandara Festival of HULJANTI is the symbolic outburst with colour of life and dedication of faith to the almighty god. This is considered as one of the most colourful, sacred and religious festival among the members of DHANGAR community from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states of India. Dhangars are the shepherd community of this region who deals in mainly animal harvesting. The festival is marked as one of the top trio turmeric festivals that also include PATTANKODOLI BHANDARA and JEJURI BHANDARA. Devotees in millions from distant places gather to show their devotions during the holy day of new moon after Dussehra in this least known hamlet HULJANTI, which is situated in the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka. An interesting mythological story is earnestly believed by the DHANGAR deciples of the household god Lord BIRUDEV which revolves around the celebration.The name of the village HULJANTI is constructed with two words…HUL, which means tiger and JANTI- means den. In a word, the place is famously known as “tiger’s den” to pay respect to the great Dhangar leader MAHALINGRAYA. People believe, once Lord BIRUDEV came to meet his dedicated deciple Malingraya here in a forest. The god was thirsty and asked for water. Malingraya went for water, but being unable to find any, he finally approached a tigress for her milk for the god. Tigress obliged him n sent her cub along with to let the god know his bravery. Lord BIRUDEV remained ultimate satisfied with his brave dedication and confered him with title HUL(tiger) n declare the place as HULJANTI(tiger’s den). The celebration is therefore to denote the god’s meet with his human representative on the auspicious day of BALI PRATIPADA, the day after Karthik Amavasyya in the village Huljanti. Devotees bring big chariot(Palkhi) with the idol of god and their pathfinder leader MAHALINGRAYA smeared with auspicious turmeric powder. Two more Palkhi is brought in the same occasion to mark Malingraya’s meet up with his loving accepted sister Silvanti Devi and father Bramhdev. Devotees run with the Palkhis n meet at a point. People from everywhere throw turmeric powder all around, the sky and the air get fully covered and drenched with the faith painted with golden yellow and holy chants “Mhalappa Che Chngbhale”. Palkhis are ushered by hosting red flags and blowing Tutari(teaditional bugle). Faith and religious feelings overpower the human behavior all around.The celebration starts at the previous night which observes a new moon, where a colourful head gear clothe of 365 HATH(length of a hand) long, believed to be of Lord BIRUDEV, is worshipped and then kept opened for the devotees to witness. Two prominent leaders, Adil Shah from Bijapur and Dafle Sarkar from HATH are believed to be the biggest follower of the lord. Adil Shah had offered the gold ornaments for the Lord BIRUDEV and king MAHALINGRAYA during his time long back. These ornaments are taken out this day every year for public display. To feed the millions of devotees, foods are served from Bijapur and Jath village every year.Huljanti, despite being a very lesser known festival among the Indian people, touches the heart of the onlookers to the extreme core for its being soaked into the unfathomable vibration, devotion and dedication smeared with the golden midas touch of human behaviour and sensitivity with unimaginable faith.
Jejuri Bhandara Festival : Jejuri Temple is located in the Jejuri town, which lies to the southeastern part of the Pune city of Maharashtra. The temple is dedicated to Lord Khandoba. Khandoba is widely believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva and is worshipped as the presiding deity by the Dhangar, Teli,Ramoshi, and Mang communities and even by some in the Lingayat,Maratha, Deshastha Brahmin,Mali and Jains community as a incarnation of Lord Shiva.
DuringSomvatiAmavarsya, which is a new-moon day that falls on a Monday, a huge celebration is organized in Jejuri Khandoba temple. A palakhi (palanquin) procession of Khandoba and Mhalsa’s images is carried from the Gad-kot temple to the Karha river, where the images are ritually bathed. The palakhi procession is taken through temples in Jejuri and Khandoba is brought back to his temple before the end of Amavasya.
Themain ritual of the day is the offering of Bhandara i.e turmeric powder. The temple premise is almost covered with turmeric powder, because the root of turmeric is said to be in the shape of a linga, a phallic representation of Load Shiva. Large amounts of Turmeric powder are thrown in and around the temple on that day. Devotees virtually bathe in yellow colour. Thus the festival creates magnificent opportunities of capturing travel photography, portraits, candid moments and rich Indian culture. Fotorbit will conduct a day long photography workshop on this festival.
TRIP ITINERARY :
Day 1 : 27th Oct 2019 (Sunday) : We will start from Pune at around 1400 hrs in the evening, so that we can reach Jejuri by 1600 hrs. There will be an interaction session to provide an overview of the upcoming three events. We will go for an early bed so as to get up at midnight to visit the festival ground and try to capture different moods of the festival early in the morning. will leave Jejuri once the program gets over.
Day 2 : 28th Oct 2019 (Monday) : We will start from Jejuri at around 0900 hrs in the morning, so that we can reach Huljanti village by 1400 hrs. We will visit the festival ground and try to capture different moods of the festival till evening. After program, return to pre-booked hotel at Pune for overnight stay.
Day 3 : 29th Oct 2019 (Tuesday) : After breakfast, we will start for the main event of “SAGAR” Bull Raging shoot. Will continue till 3 pm, will have lunch and come back to hotel. Our Huljanti, Jejuri & Bull Raging phototour ends here.
* Itinerary is subjected to reschedule if there is any change in the event date and timing.
COST OF THE TOUR : Rs. 18,000/- for Indians and 450$ for Non-Indian/NRI participants
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY
If you cancel your registration, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:
45 days or more: 75% refund
30 days or more: 50% refund
15 Days or more: 25% refund
Less than 15 days : Non –refundable
Fee Includes :
- Shared double bed room (same gender participants) in a standard clean hotel at Jejuri and Pune with western toilet. For separate room extra charge is applicable.
- It will cover your main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), starting from 27th October 2019 evening tea to 29th October, 2019 lunch.
- Mineral water will be provided only during meals.
- Tea/Coffee will be provided with breakfast and in the evening.
- Pune to Jejuri to Huljanti Transport and back.
- All local transports related with our tour in Pune.
Fee Doesn’t Includes :
- Train/flight tickets to and from Pune city, India.
- Any additional food items or beverage during meals.
- Any extra mineral water bottle / beverage will be your personal expense.
- Any personal habit or expenses.
- Anything that not in “Include” list.
Our Liabilities & Limitations:
- All itineraries are sample itineraries, intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. Numerous factors such as weather, road conditions, local political situations, the physical ability of the participants etc. may dictate itinerary changes either before the tour or while on the trail. We reserve the right to change any schedule in the interest of the trip participants’ safety, comfort & general well being.
- Organisers shall not be responsible for any delays & alterations in the programme or expenses incurred – directly or indirectly – due to natural hazards, flight cancellations, train delay, accidents, breakdown of transport, weather, sickness, road blockages, political closures or any troublesome incidents.
- Organisers shall not be responsible for any loss, injury or damage to person, property, or otherwise in connection with any accommodation, transportation or other services, resulting – directly or indirectly – from any act of GOD, dangers, fire, accident, breakdown in machinery or equipment, breakdown of transport, wars, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferages, epidemics, medical or custom department regulations, defaults, or any other causes beyond our control.
- Organisers do not have any insurance policy covering the expenses for accident, sickness, loss due to theft, or any other reasons. All baggage, camera, other gears & personal property/s at all times are at the client’s risk.
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