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PLACES
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TALEGAON DASHASAR
Taleganv Dasasar is a village in Candur tahsil with 1,367 houses
and a population of 6,306. At one time it was the largest town
in Candur tahsil and was its headquarters. The name might have
been derived from the existence or four lakes in and around the
village. Dasasar, the second name is a corruption of the Sanskrt
word Dasa sahasra. The origin of its nickname Dasa Sahasra is
peculiar but not very credible. The legend runs thus; the wife
of the Jagirdar and the wife of a wealthy merchant went to the
market one day. It so happened that on this particular day an
uncommonly fine pumpkin (some say ash gourd) was displayed
for sale. It attracted the notice of both simultaneously. Both
admired it and desired it and finally both began to outbid each
other; the merchant's wife, determined to have it at any cost, the
dignity of the Jagirdar's wife forbade her giving way. The price
rose rapidly. One hundred seemed a trifle. So also five. A
thousand was reached and the pair got warm to their work.
So they quickly bade up to five thousand, and from that to ten
thousand, at which price it was ultimately knocked down. The
legend unfortunately keeps us in the dark as to who carried off
the prize, but it is believed that the merchant's wife was the victor.
Hence in memory of this exciting contest the town was dubbed
"Dasa Sahasra" which means ten thousand. A more probable
derivation is from the number of inhabitants in the town at the
height of its prosperity, or from its revenue in rupees.
Taleganv is now in ruins but the remnants of many fine houses and temples attest to its former prosperity. One of the best known of its relics is the dargah of fakir Sah Abdul Latif Kadri which had a grant of land from the Emperor Sah Jahan. It had originally a brick wall around but now it lies in a dilapidated state and is past repairs. The chamber containing the tomb of the Avaliya is 1.858m- metres (20 ft. square) and has a dome. A copy of the Quran, hand-written by Sah Abdul Latif himself during his life-time has been placed beside the grave. An urus is held on the Muharrum day. The dargah is ill maintained. The village is known for the Sankar Pat festival which is held on the day following the urns, its principal feature among other things being the bullock-cart race. It lasts for two days and is attended by over 60,000 persons coming from all over the district and even outside. Rewards up to Rs. 1,000 are awarded to the winners. The programme is carried out under the supervision of the Zilla Parisad.
There are temples dedicated to Maruti, Rama, Vitthala, Kesava and Madhyamesvara. The first of these viz., that of Maruti is said to date back from the times of the Yadavas and has an old squarish well in the backyard. The village has a police station, a post and telegraph office, two primary schools, one each for boys and girls, a Marathi and a Urdu middle schools, a high school called Balaji High School, a civil and a veterinary dispensary and a co-operative society.
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