The Dussehra festival was celebrated in Trimbakeshwar on Thursday in the traditional manner, filled with religious fervour and joy.
Justice Sachin Bhansali, Chairman of the Trimbakeshwar Temple Trust, performed the Mahapuja in the sanctum sanctorum in the morning. Historical weapons possessed by the Sansthan, including shields, swords, spears, and guns, were worshipped at the trust office building, honoring the rich heritage.
At around 3:30 pm, the palanquin of Trimbak Raja was taken out for Simolanghana in the traditional style. The priest of the Devi temple at Gadavane, along with descendants of the Dore family, accompanied the procession with abdagiri. They worshipped the mask with flowers and coconuts as part of the rituals.
The palanquin first reached Kushavarta and later the government rest house on the Nashik–Trimbak road. Here, Prabhakarao Tryambakarao Dharane and his family arranged a pavilion on two gunthas of land donated in memory of the late former mayor, Tryambakarao Dharane. The Simolanghana ceremony was performed at this venue, and the Shami vriksha was also worshipped.
Sansthan trustees Swapnil Shelar, Pradeep Tungar, Satyapriya Shukla, and Mangesh Dharane conducted the rituals. Former mayors Trupti Dharane, Pankaj Dharane, and Parag Dharane inspected the palanquin and welcomed devotees. Other notable attendees included Girish Joshi, Mangesh Dighe, Raj Tungar, and the priest.
Following the Shami vriksha rituals, the Devasthan Trust distributed milk as prasad to the devotees. The palanquin then returned to the temple via the Mahadevi temple. At that time, the worship of the Nitya Pradosh Pushpa Pujak Ulhas Aaradhi was underway inside the sanctum sanctorum.
The five-faced golden mask of Lord Trimbak Raja was taken inside, touched to the Shivpindi, and then brought out. The palanquin later passed through the Gramdevata Mahadevi temple via Jawhar Road before returning to the Trimbakeshwar Temple.
The festival concluded smoothly and was described by attendees as a vibrant and visual delight.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/nashik-trimbakeshwar-celebrates-dussehra-with-traditional-simolanghana-procession