Festivals of Maharashtra
The Banganga Festival
Legend has it that Lord Ram, on his way to Lanka in search of his wife Sita,
stopped on the hillock of Malabar Hill. His followers were worshippers of Shiva
and they fashioned a shivalinga from sand and called it Walluka Ishwar - 'walluka'
meaning 'sand' and 'Ishwar', 'the God'. Though surrounded by water, the people
could not find fresh water to quench their thirst or perform daily puja. Seeing
this, Ram shot a ban (arrow) into the ground and the fresh waters of the holy
Ganga sprang from that spot.
Centuries later, the Shilahara kings built a large and beautiful tank in stone,
to store the water of the Banganga. Settlers through the ages built numerous,
beautifully sculpted temples to various deities around the tank.
Every year, in January, a cultural extravaganza is organised at Banganga, where
top artistes from around the country perform live classical music concerts.
Cultural enthusiasts attend the festival and feast the soul as well as the mind
as the sun sets.
The Elephanta Festival
In February Elephanta, a small island near Mumbai, is a favoured destination
for culture lovers. It is the site of the Elephanta Festival, the tranquil abode
of Lord Shiva, just one-and-a-half-hour's journey by motor launch from Mumbai.
Once known as Puri or Gharapuri, the island was the proud capital of a powerful
coastal kingdom. It was named Elephanta by the Portuguese, who took possession
of it several centuries later, and found a monolithic stone elephant at the
place they first landed.
The Elephanta caves are a showcase of legends created around Lord Shiva, beautifully
presented here in all his splendour in the rock cave temples. Every year, renowned
dancers and musicians perform outside the caves, beneath a star-studded sky,
to a select and appreciative audience. Special launch services and catering
arrangements are provided for visitors.
The Ellora Festival near Aurangabad
There was a time when the Gods grew bored in their celestial abode. They asked
the Lord if they could visit the earth. That evening, He said they could, but
on condition that they returned by dawn. The Gods set up a city at the place
they fancied and, lost in their pleasures, they let time pass by.
Since they failed to return by dawn, they were turned to stone - in the magnificent
monolith called Ellora, the heavenly abode of the Gods on earth. MTDC organises
the Ellora Festival here in December, inviting in renowned artistes who display
their virtuosity in music and dance. Surrounded by 1,400-year old caves and
rock carvings, artistes perform in this magnificent ambience to enchant the
gods, goddesses and human lovers of art. The Kailas temple, sculptured out of
one huge rock, is one of the most beautiful backdrops for an event such as this
.
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