Champa Shashti: The Six-Day Celebration of Lord Khandoba's Triumph

Champa Shashti is not just a festival but a celebration of devotion, faith, and the eternal battle between good and evil. The sixth day of the bright half of the month of Margashirsha is known as Champa Shashti. On this day, Lord Khandoba, an avatar of Lord Shiva, is worshipped. On this day, Devotees worship Lord Khandoba to obtain his protection, prosperity, and fulfillment of their desires. This festival is celebrated on an immense scale in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Champa Shashti is also celebrated with great pomp in Jejuri Khandoba Temple. The festival rituals last for six days, beginning on the Amavasya and ending on the Champa Shasthi day. Here check how this festival is celebrated, date and time, puja vidhi, offerings, importance, etc.

Table of Contents:

1. Date and Time of Champa Shashti 2024
2. Significance of Champa Shashti
3. Why Lord Shiva manifested as Lord Khandoba
4. How is Champa Shashti celebrated in Jejuri Khandoba Temple?
5. How is Champla Shashti celebrated in Maharashtra and Karnataka?
6. Why is Champa Shashti celebrated for six days?
7. Champa Shashti Rituals
8. Puja Vidhi of Champa Shashti: step by step
9. Champa Shashti Mantra
10. What to do on Champa Shashti?

Date and Time of Champa Shashti 2024

This year, Champa Shashti will be celebrated in December and here you can check the date and timing of Champa Shashti 2024:
Champa Shashti Date: 7 December, Saturday
Champa Shashti Time: Starting on 6 December at 12:07 and Ending on 8 December at 11:05 

Significance of Champa Shashti

The cultural diversity in India is very unique and interesting. The Champa Shashti festival holds great importance in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Here you can know, why this festival holds great value in the hearts of Hindus:
This day is celebrated as a symbol of victory of Good over Evil. Devotees consider Lord Khandoba as a protector of the people and is also known as the Lord of Farmers, Hunters, and Warriors.

Why did Lord Shiva manifest as Lord Khandoba?

According to Hindu mythology, the demon brothers Malla and Mani impressed Lord Shiva with their austerities and granted them an invincible power that can suppress the power of anyone, even the Gods. They used their power negatively and took control of the Manikaran mountain which is a sacred place dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva and Goddess Parvati.  

How is Champa Shashti celebrated in Jejuri Khandoba Temple?

The festival is a mesmerizing blend of devotion, tradition, and festivity which offers an interesting and unique spiritual experience at Jejuri Khandoba Temple. Thousands of devotees came to this temple for the blessing of Lord Khandoba.

Jejuri Khandoba is the epicenter of the Champa Shashti celebration and the temple is located near Pune in Maharashtra. This temple is also known as Khandobachi Jejuri which is one of the most known pilgrimage sites for Lord Khandoba. Lord Khandoba is the warrior incarnation of Lord Shiva. This temple is situated on the top of the hills and is known as "Sonyaachi Jejuri"

How is Champa Shashti celebrated in Maharashtra and Karnataka?

In Maharashtra, Champa Shashti is primarily celebrated in the regions of Pune, Nashik, Kolhapur, Solapur and Ahmednagar. This festival's most important celebration happens at Jejuri Khandoba Temple which is located near Pune. People follow all the rituals and celebrate this festival happily. On the final day, devotees prepare a grand palki where the idol of Lord Khandoba is carried through the streets with Dhol-Tasha and traditional Lezim dancers. As the Lord Khandoba is a warrior God, the devotees worship him with swords. At night, people do jagran where they sing bhajans and Kirtans dedicated to God.
In Karnataka, Champa Shashti is primarily celebrated in Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Bidar, and Belagavi, where Lord Khandoba is worshipped as Mailaralinga. This day is dedicated to Lord Khandoba, revered as a family deity (Kuladevata) by many communities. As the deity is considered a Warrior God, some devotees also offer him non-vegetarian food. 

Why is Champa Shashti celebrated for six days?

According to Hindu Scriptures, the fight between the Lord Khandoba and the demon - Malla and Mani lasts for six days. That’s why the festival is celebrated for six days. 

Champa Shashti Rituals

The rituals of this festival are carried out for six days from Amavasya until Champa Shashti. The manifestation of Bhagwan Shiva Khandoba also known as Khanderao, Martanda Bhairav, Malhar or Malhari is worshipped on this auspicious day. Devotees visit the temple of Bhagwan Shiva for six days and offer vegetables, fruits, apple leaves, and turmeric powder. On the last day of the festival, devotees offer multi-grain flour with turmeric powder and wheat base to the God.  

Champa Shashti Puja Vidhi

Here given below the Puja Vidhi of Champa Shashti step by step:
1. You should wake up early in the morning, take an early bath, and visit the temple of Bhagwan Shiva.
2. You should do the abhishekam of the Shivling with milk, flowers, gangajal, and bilva leaves.
3. In the puja of Lord Khandoba aka Lord Shiva, you should use ittar, abir, and other fragrances.
4. You should also offer arghya to the God with ghee, water and curd.
5. After that, Shiv Chalisa is recited and the Arti is performed.
6. You should also light nine diyas (lamps) of sesame oil in the evening.
7. People also offer Brinjal and Millet to the God and distribute it among the needy.  

Champa Shashti Mantra

The Mantra should be chanted 108 times in a Shiva temple. 

“ॐ मार्तंडाय मल्लहारी नमो नमः॥”

What to do on Champa Shashti?

Devotees should walk barefoot to the Bhagwan Khandoba Temple or Bhagwan Shiva Temple to get his blessings on this auspicious day.
On the festival of Champa Shashti, devotees should visit the temple for six days straight in the morning.
On this day, devotees offer multiple types of offerings to Lord Khandoba such as turmeric powder, rodaga (wheat-based delicacy), thombara (prepared from multi-grain flour), and a dish made from onion, garlic, and brinjal.
In Maharashtra, Devotees also offer Baigan ka Bharta and millet chapatis to the God Khandoba.