Over the years Kolhapur has become synonymous with the Dasara (or Dussehra) festival. Dasara is the most extravagant festival of Kolhapur. This festival has been celebrated in this princely state with great pomp and show since centuries. This tradition is still carried on though the scale of the celebrations has been watered down. The Dasara festival is celebrated on Ashwini Shukla or on Vijayadashmi
each year. This is an important day of Navratri. This day is important auspicious day for Hindus to start any new work or perform any ceremony.
In Kolhapur, on this day Goddess Mahalaxmi is decorated with precious gold and diamond ornaments. The pooja of Devi is performed on Ambari of elephant. The statue of Devi used for occasion is also decorated with ornaments. The well decorated statue is brought in Palkhi at Garud Mandap at 5:00 p.m. The guard of honour to Palkhi is given by canon firing. After firing the Bhaldars and Chopdars( The persons nominated for praise)give Lalkari (Praising) and Palkhi starts to headway to Dasara Chowk to perform the holy rituals. There is an overwhelming occasion at Dasara Chowk on this day. At sunset the Devi’s Palkhi arrives at the Dasara Chowk where His Highness Shrimant Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj performs the pooja of Devi. Before arriving at the pendal the Devi’s Palkhi is brought by grand Royal Procession. His Highness arrives with his princes by Moback car.The persons from the royal darbar who participate in procession are well dressed in royal way. The plants of Sham tree are kept in middle of ground. The pooja of Shami is performed by family members of Shri Dattray Birade, Sardar of a royal family. After the pooja is performed by Birade family, first His Highness takes away the leaves and distributes among peoples. The value of Shami leaves is compared with gold on this day of festival. After His Highness, people go to the Shami tree on the ground and collect Shami leaves and distribute with each other, friends and relatives and wish happiness for each other. After the Shami pooja all Palkhis forward towards New Palace. The Plakhi of Goddess Mahalaxmi returns to temple. When the Palkhi of Goddess returns towards temple people welcome the Palkhi and offer Shami leaves to Goddess and secure blessings. The Palkhi is welcomed at the temple in royal way. After the pooja is performed n temple, the festival programme ends.
Royal Procession-In olden days the royal procession had its own importance. The royal people took part with royal dresses. The silver Ambari was kept on well decorated elephant with gold ornaments, followed by lions, tigers, horses, camels and various other animals. The royal guards took part in the procession possesing various types of fighting equipments. These fighting equipments are kept in royal museum and are taken out on the Dasara festivals. The royal band also took part in it. Each and every person had its own importance during the procession and where placed accoring to their importance.The length of procession was around 3 to 4 kms. On these days.
