It is one of those festivals of India which hasn’t taken the limelight yet on any of the social media platforms or on the news. This festival is among the very few less commercialised festivals of India, which makes it all the more special. Also known as Haldi (turmeric) Festival, it is attended by thousands of devotees who come down from different parts of the country such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and more. Only a handful of photographers – who are fortunate enough to know of it’s existence attend the festival. Vittal Birdev Yatra is celebrated in the Vaishakha month of the Hindu calendar to offer prayers to Shri Vitthal Birdev, the principal deity of the shepherd community. It is believed to bring good fortune to the community.
The key highlight of this entire festival is a certain “Baba or Saint” Keloba Rajabau Waghmode – the baba of the devotees. It is said that he walks for over 17 days from his village to reach Pattan Kodoli for the festival every year. The saint is usually surrounded by devotees who also carry huge umbrellas to welcome him to the temple and also provide shade. Occasionally, devotees also throw a mixture of haldi (turmeric) and dry coconut on the saint as a gesture of good fortune. Drums and traditional music is played while “Baba” makes his way to the temple.
As soon as he enters the temple, he reportedly gets into a trance for nearly ten minutes. He then gives his predictions on the future of the farming community followed by a rain forecast for that year in Kannada, as the devotees listen to him attentively. His predictions are simultaneously translated by a priest as well, in order to help other non-Kannada speaking devotees understand his words. The next few days have similar rituals with devotees flowing in and out of the village and seeking their blessings from Baba until the festival ends.
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