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This event is held as a ritual, a day after Dussera every year at Jejuri’s famous Khandoba temple. The fete involves the contestants lifting a huge sword weighing 42 kg and locally known as a khanda or khadga, not with their hands, but with their teeth! The one who is able to hold it high for the longest time is the winner of a prize. The exact history of the sword, which is made of rustproof alloy, is still a mystery that has baffled many a researcher. However, the inscriptions on it say that it was gifted to the deity by 17th century Maratha Sardars Mahipatrao Panse and Ramrao Panse as thanks for the granting of their wishes. The name of the deity, Khandoba is derived from the words khanda or the sword, which is the weapon used by Khandoba to kill the demon Mani-Malla. According to Vitthal Thombre, author of Kuldaivat Khandoba, the sword may have been offered after success in some battle somewhere between 1763 and 1766. And the Vishnu Pandit, a priest at the Khandoba temple, says the Maratha warriors worshiped Khandoba as their Kuldev (clan god) and they carried his image on their flag. The sword lifting participants line up early morning in the temple precincts and most of them come to pay their respects and to give thanks. Since turmeric is the basic offering for the deity, it is sprinkled all around till the grounds shine with a bright yellow hue. The sword is held by a cloth and raised with one hand while the pommel near the hilt is gripped between the teeth. The other contestants cheer on with chants praising the deity and there is more sprinkling of the yellow spice. Since the sword is extremely heavy, two or three volunteers always stand guard around the contestant in case it falls. According to Vijaykumar Harishchandra, a member of the temple’s organising committee, the competition has been successfully accomplished for many years without any casualties. “The sword has never fallen nor has it caused harm to any contestant. The power to lift the sword like this comes more from the devotion than the human endurance.” :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Please Like,Comment And Share The Videos And don't miss to subscribe. Keep Watching /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
