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FOLKLORE OF THE KONKAN
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in tho Ratnagiri District, a buffalo is offered day except Monday and Ekadashi, Tuesdays to the goddess Redjai on the full moon and Sundays being considered most suitable, day of Chaitra every third year, 1 At Nárin At Ubhádánda in the Ratnagiri District, Ravgre offerings of cocoanuts, etc. are made to the alnáth and Bhutanáth are held in great reverdeities Bhávakái, Chala, etc, on the 1st of the ence. They are believed to be incarnations of month of Márgashirsha. 2 The Schoolmaster the god Shiva. The Pujáris are generally of Ibrampur states that one of the following Guravs, Ghadis, Ráuls and Sutárs. The deities is the grámadevata of every village in following goddesses which are popular in the the Ratnagiri District viz: Chandkái, Varad- Ratnagiri District are believed to be incarnations han, Khem, Bahiri, Kedár, Vággaya, Antaral of the goddess Durga, vis, Navala-devi, VághurManaya, Salbaya and Vághámbari. A proces- devi, Jakha-devi and Kálkái, At Maral in sion in their honour takes place in the months the Ratnagiri District there is a swayambhu of Chaitra and Fálgun. The Pujáris are gener- or natural linga of the god Shiva. It is called ally either Guravs or Marátha Kunbis. A Maheshwar, and in its honour a fair is held ceremony called Palejatra is performed in the on the Sankrant day. The chief local deity sowing season, while the Dhal-jatra is per- of the Dahánu taluka, Thána District, is Maháformed at the harvest tiine. At these fairs | lakshmi. She has seven sisters and one brofowls, cocoanpts, goats, fruits, etc. are offered ther, two of the sisters being the Pangala-devi to these deities. At Málwan on the no-moon at Tárápur and the Delavadi-devi at Ghivali. day of Shrávan (August) local deities and Goats and fowls are offered to the Pangalaghosts are propitiated by offering to them goats, devi on the Dasara day. Her Pujári is a fowls, etc. At Pálset in the Ratnagiri Gurav. It is said that the goddess Delwadi District, the god Parashurám is the most used to receive her garments from the sea, but important dcity especially for Chitpávans, now this is no longer the case though it is stili He exterminated the Kshatriyas twenty-one believed that the incense which is burnt before times, and having no space for himself and her comes floating from Dwarka.10 In the his Brahmans, he asked the sea to provide him village of Edwan there is a goddess called with new land. On mecting with a refusal, Ashápuri, who used to supply her devotees with Parashurám became enraged and was about to whatever they wanted. The devotee was repush the sea back with his arrow, when, at the quired to besmear with cow-dung a plot of instigation of the sea, a black-bee (bhunga)
ground in the temple, and to pray for the things cut the string of his bow, and the arrow only
wanted by him. The next day, when he came
to the temple, he found the desired things went a short distance. The people say that the
on the spot besmeared with cow-dung.11 At space thus recovered from the sea came to be
Mángaon the Pujári of the local goddess is called Konkan. At Anjarle there are two local
either the Pátil or the Madhavi of the village 12 goddesses Sawanekarin and Bahiri. Offerings
In the village of Dahigaon cocoanuts are of goats and fowls are made to them in the
offered annually to the village Máruti, and months of Márgashirsha (Decenaber) and
fowls and goats to the other local deities, in Fálgun (March). Sometimes liquor and eggs order that the village may be protected against are also offered. Offerings can be made on any danger and disease. 12 It is believed that any
1 School Master, Dábhol, Ratnagiri.
2 School Master, Náringre, Ratnagiri. 3 School Master, Ibrámpur, Ratnagiri.
* School Master, Málwan, Ratnagiri 5 School Master, Palset, Ratnagiri.
& School Master, Anjarle, Ratnagiri. 1 School Master, Ubhádánda, Ratnagiri.
8 School Master, Masure, Ratnagiri. School Master, Sékbarpe, Ratnagiri.
10 School Master, Dahánu, Thána. 11 School Master, Edwan, Thana.
12 School Master, Mångaon, Thána 13 School Master , Dahigaon.
