Hindu festival showers Indian town with turmeric
When the new moon coincides with a Monday, the small Indian town of Jejuri in western Maharashtra state sparkles with gold.
During the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, which falls on Feb. 4, June 3 and Oct. 28 this year, devotees worship Lord Khandoba and celebrate his victory over the demons Mani and Malla.
There are more than 600 Khandoba temples across the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and northern and central Karnataka. However, as many as 600,000 devotees come especially to Jejuri to cover the town — and each other — in golden swirls of turmeric, a mild, earthy spice that in its powdered form is a vital component of Indian cuisine.
There are several explanations for the choice of this spice to celebrate Khandoba. The most common is the belief that Khandoba is a descendant of the sun god Surya and is often depicted with four arms holding bowls of turmeric that symbolize sunlight. In other interpretations, turmeric represents the gold that worshippers pray to Khandoba to receive.
During the festival, people show their devotion with ritual songs to Khandoba and make wishes.
Then men take the statue of Khandoba from the temple and carry it to the river for a traditional bath as crowds try to touch the idol for a blessing.
A devotee applies the spice turmeric during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Devotees hold a plate with turmeric as they offer prayers during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A devotee covered in the spice turmeric goes into a trance during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A devotee plays a horn in a crowd covered in the spice turmeric during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A devotee covered in turmeric goes into a trance during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Devotees smeared in turmeric join a procession during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Devotees are covered in the spice turmeric during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A man begs outside a temple during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A devotees sweeps before the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A devotee's shirt has handprints of the spice turmeric during the celebration of the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India, Monday, June 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
With AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Hindu festival showers Indian town with turmeric.
Photos by Rafiq Maqbool