Dabka (Padra): On the auspicious occasion of Ganga Saptami, the residents of Dabka village in Padra taluka celebrated the unique Chundadi Manorath festival with great fervor. A remarkable 351-meter long chundi (a sacred cloth) was offered to Lokmata Mahisagar (Mother Mahisagar River) by stretching it across the entire width of the holy river.

The Chundadi Manorath is a tradition observed by the villagers for the well-being of all. The festivities commenced with a vibrant procession through Dabka village. Villagers, filled with devotion, carried the palanquin of Mataji and the long chundi, accompanied by joyous cheers and religious chants.

Amidst the spiritual atmosphere, Brahmin priests recited Vedic mantras and performed the ritualistic anointing of the Mahisagar river with ghee, sava mana of milk, and sugar.

Padra MLA Chaitanya Singh Jhala graced the event with his presence and participated in the Abhishek (anointing ceremony) and Mahaarti (grand prayer) alongside the enthusiastic villagers. Senior district panchayat member Arjun Singh Padhiar, along with other community leaders and a significant number of devotees, including men, women, elders, and children from Dabka and neighboring villages, also joined in the celebrations. Members of the Sagar Bharati Seema Jagran Manch were also actively involved.

Following the religious ceremonies, the villagers floated lamps in the river, offering prayers for the prosperity and welfare of all.

According to former Sarpanch Mahesh Jadav, the Mahisagar river is revered by the people living along its banks as the lifeline of central Gujarat, akin to a mother. Inspired by the village deity and Pradhumansingh Chauhan, this unique Chundadi Manorath festival has been celebrated annually on Ganga Saptami for the past seven years, bringing the entire village together in joyous devotion.

The Mahisagar river flows through the heart of Dabka village, where an ancient temple dedicated to Mahisagar Mata stands as a testament to the deep faith of numerous villages in the Padra taluka. The temple and the riverbank frequently witness gatherings of devotees.

Devotees regularly visit the Mahisagar river for a holy dip on Sundays, Tuesdays, Purnima (full moon), and Amas (new moon), believing it purifies them. This year, like every year, the Chundadi Manorath festival was celebrated on the holy day of Vaishakh Sud Satam, also known as Ganga Saptami.

The Skanda Purana highlights the religious significance of the Mahi river, referring to it as Chudamani in Satyuga, Karnabhadra in Dwapara Yuga, Papanashini in Treta Yuga, and Mahi, known for its purifying bath and worship, in Kaliyuga.

The Mahisagar river serves as the primary source of drinking water and water for livestock and domestic use for the communities residing along its banks. Notably, even during the peak of summer when other water bodies tend to dry up, the river in Dabka village remains abundantly flowing. DeshGujarat