A Splash Of Gold

A sea of yellow surrounds you in Pattan Kodoli in Kolhapur. Every year, for four days during the last week of October, the festival of Vittal Birdev Yatra marks the birth anniversary of the community’s deity, Vittal Birdev Maharaj. The festival is mainly celebrated by the Dhangar community of shepherds who reside in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The entire village is enveloped in turmeric and dry coconut powder as people celebrate the homecoming of the Baba, eagerly awaiting his prophecies about the fate of their crops.

As the festival’s origins go, a baba travels to Pattan Kodoli from Solapur’s Anjungau village, walking for 17 days. Once he reaches the village, he is greeted by a swarm of devotees, big umbrellas, and a musical parade. The village of Pattan Kodoli morphs into a paradise for tourists and photographers during this time.