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Navratri Festival At Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Temple

The Navratri festival held in Ashwin month (September – October) is observed for 10 days at the world famous Kolhapur Mahalaxmi temple. The festival begins with Ghatasthapana and concludes on Dashami.

During Navratri daily puja is performed on all ten days at 8:30 AM 11:30 AM and 9:30 PM. Goddess Mahalaxmi is adorned with her traditional ornaments at 2:00 PM.

At 9:30 PM during Navratri, a procession is carried out on silver palanquin. The music for the procession is provided by the police and military band. The procession ends at 10:30 PM.

Devotees have darshan of Maa Laxmi at Garuda Mandapam at 10:30 PM and a one canon salute marks the end of the festivities and rituals for the day.

On the fifth day of Navratri (Lalita Panchami day), abhishekam is performed at 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM along with the regular puja.

At 10 am on the fifth day of Navratri, one canon salute is given to Goddess Ambabai. This marks the beginning of the procession to visit Goddess Tremboli’s Temple. Goddess Ambabai reaches the Tremboli temple at noon. Kushmanda Bali ritual is performed by Shri Chhatrapati (this ritual represents killing of the enemy). Around 2 PM the procession is back and aarti is performed.

Same puja schedule of other days is followed on Ashtami and Navami day at the temple.

On the tenth and final day of the festival after the abhishek at 11:30 AM, Shalu (Mahavastra) is offered to goddess, the shalu isa  gift from Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. At 5 pm Goddess Ambabai’s procession visits Dasara Chowk, where traditional puja is performed by Chatrapati after which the procession heads back to the temple.