Martand Bhairav Festival is annually held in the marathi month of Maragaishra at the famous Jejuri Temple near Pune in Maharashtra . Martand Bhairav Festival 2023 (date) is from December 13 to December 18. The festival begins on the Kartik Amavasya day and ends on the Champa Shashti day.
The festival is popularly known as Khandoba – Malhari Martand Bhairav Rathotsav.
Martand, or Malhari Martand, is an incarnation of Hindu God Shiva. It is believed that Martand fought demons Malla and Mani for six days and finally defeated them and restored Dharma on earth.
The festival is dedicated to this victory of Malhari Martand.
Majority of the temples dedicated to Malhari Martand form of Shiva are located in Maharashtra and Karnataka.