About Shri Ambabai/Mahalaxmi Temple Festivals
The Kolhapur Shakti Peetha is of special religious significance being one of the six places where it is believed that one can either obtain salvation from desires or have them fulfilled. The temple takes its name from Ambabai, the consort of Shiva, and it is believed that the divine couple reside in the area.
Five worship services are offered each day. The first one is at 5 am which is known as KAKAD AARATI.
It is said that Sun god gives respect to Mahalaxmi (Ambabai) for three days in a year. This will be on the occasion of RathaSaptami (which will be during January every year). This will be for 3 days. The first day, ray falls on the feet, on second day, on the middle portion of the deity and on the third day on the face
About Festivals
Navratra (nine nights) festival is celebrated for ten days during the Hindu months of Ashwin (around October). The daily routine of the temple is modified during this period. At 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Abhishek is performed followed by Mahanaivedya and Aarti. Later at 2.00 p.m. the deity is decorated with all the ornaments. On all ten days at 9.30 p.m. the litter of the Goddess is decorated in different forms with flowers and lights and is taken out in procession in the temple complex. Government sponsored police and military band is played at the head of the procession. The event culminates at 10.30 p.m. when the litter returns to the Garud Mandap and is placed on a special pedestal. The Goddess then receives one canon salute. Various cultural programmes are organized by the Mahalakshim Temple Trust in these ten days.
At 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. Abhishek is performed along with the other routine rituals. At 10.00 a.m. the litter of the Goddess is given one canon salute and it leaves the temple premises to visit Goddess Tryambuli's temple which is at a short distance from the main temple in Kolhapur. En route it halts at Shahu Mill and Takala for Puja and Aarti. The procession reaches Goddess Tryambuli's temple by noon. The Chhatrapati (the local royal ruler) performs Kushmandabali (breaking a pumpion gourd into two with a sword. This represents killing of the enemy) in the presence of an unmarried girl from the Patil family from Kasba Bavda, near Kolhapur. The litter returns to the temple at 2.00 p.m. later an Aarti is done. In the evening the litter is carried in procession around the temple itself.
At 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Abhishek is performed on the deity along with the other usual rituals followed by Alankar Puja. The silver representation of the Goddess is placed in the Garud Mandap from 7.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. At 9.45 p.m. the Goddess then receives one canon salute. The silver representation is placed on a throne and is taken around the town in procession from Mahadwar road, Gujri-Bhausinghji road, Bhavani Mandap (where the goddess is honoured with betel leaves and betel nut by distinguished people. She is also offered Oti (comprising golden bordered blouse piece, coconut, bangles, sweets and token money), Gurumaharajwada, Shri Binkhanbi Ganesh (where Lord Ganesh is worshipped) and back to the Mahadwar Road and to the temple. Again an Aarti is done followed by sacrificial fire Puja that continues till wee hours of next morning. It ends with the Purnahuti (culmination Puja).
As usual the rituals are done at 8.30 a.m., 11.30 a.m. and 9.30 p.m. along with the ones done throughout the year.