Vel Amavasya-Celebration of Mother Nature

Vel Amavasya, is a unique festival celebrated in several districts along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, well known for its eclectic vibe.
Right from paying tribute to the winter crops in the farms to making tasty earthen delicacies for the prasad, many interesting rituals get performed on this occasion.
On this occasion farmers and zamindars packed their food and went to their fields to have lunch with family and friends.




 A make shift temple made from sugarcane tops is made in the middle of the field where goddess laxmi and five stones are worshipped as Pandavas.



Cuisine for the farm lunch is unique which consists of all the grains and vegetables harvested in the rabi and late rabi season (during October to February).
It consist of :

• Jwarichi bhakri(jowar roti/bread)
• Bajrichi bhakri(millet roti/bread)
• Jwariche unde (jowar steamed bread)
• Bajriche unde (millet steamed bread)
• Ghavachi poli (wheat chapati)
• Kondichi poli (sweet flatbread made from wheat,roasted peauts and jaggery )
• Bhat(steamed rice)
• Ambat bhat (sour dish made from jowar just like sour rice )
• Varan (maharashtrian dal tadka),
• Ghavachi kheer (wheat kheer or wheat porridge )
• Aambil (fermented drink made from jowar, buttermilk,ginger etc.)

These are some of the dishes. But the authentic ‘Vel Amavasya’ dish is the Bhajji, made from chickpea flour,different green vegetables like 
- fenugreek, spring garlic,spring onion, corionder, boiled peanuts, boiled chickpeas, green peas,carrot and green chillies, etc. Bhajji is spicy and hot with lots of flavor , it adds the real masala to the outing. Most of the dishes last a week long without refrigeration specially bhajji .




The idea behind this festival is to express gratitude to mother nature. On the occassion of vel-amavasya the day starts early in the morning but prepration of food starts before one day or at midnight where all ladies get together and starts preparing all tasty foods. It would take minimum 7-8 hours for cooking which is very intresting process for all those who loves cooking.
After completion of food prepration evryone goes to their farms on bullock cart. after reaching at farm the elder lady from house  starts worshipping goddess laxmi and pandvas. after that everyone enjoy the delicious prasad and take a tour of farm.In this way farmers celebrate the 'Festival of mothernature' and expresses their gratitude for their land which gives all of us food.