Importance:
The Chitpavans celebrate at least one festival a month. The thinking behind this could be expressing gratitude towards the mother nature and consequently towards the almighty and to keep them in good humor to always get showered upon with their blessings. The thinking also may be due to the fact that celebrations necessarily result into fruitful interactions between individuals, leading to cohesion among various sections of the society. The festivities celebrated by the Chitpavans are as follows:
Chaitra (March April): Gudhipadva, Chaitrangan, Chaitragauri (Gajagauri), Ramnavmi (Chaitra Shuddha Navmi), Chaitra Paurnima (Hanuman Jayanti)
Ashvin (September October): Ghatsthapana (Navratri), Mahalaxmi Pujan (Ashvin Shuddha Ashtami), Dasara, Kojagiri Paurnuma
Magha (January February): Maghi Ganeshotsav (Ganesh Janma), Rathasaptami, Mahashivaratra.
Falgun (February March): Holi Paurnima, Rangapanchami (Falgun Vadya Panchami)
This list pertains to the festivals celebrated by entire ‘Chitpavan’ community. We have listed below all festivals and religious traditions followed by the ‘Marathe’s with a detailed descriptions of each. However a brief information about other festivities and traditions can also be viewed under the ‘Tab’ ‘Chitpavans’. A close look at the list of festivals would confirm the widely held premise that the Maharashtrian festivities mainly pertain to the Females of the clan. Some festivals like ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’, Dev Diwali became popular over a period of time and are being celebrated enthusiastically by entire society. In fact, many festivities are observed with identical spirit/ theme but at times with different rituals in rest of the parts of the country.
