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PLACES
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PIMPALGAON SARAI
Pimpalgaon Sarai (Chikhli T., p. 3427): The village Pimpal-gaon Sarai lies on Chikhli-Dhad road and is about 15 miles from Chikhli. The " dargah" where the " urus" is held is situated towards the west of Pimpalgaon Sarai at a distance of about one mile. Private buses ply regularly between Chikhli and Dhad and extra buses run during the period of the " urus". The nearest railway station is Malkapur on the Bombay-Calcutta main line of the Central Railway. Pilgrims from the neighbouring villages come by bullock-carts, or on foot. The urus is held in honour of Sharif Sailani Shah Miya from Phalguna Shud. 15 to Phalguna Vad. 9 at village Pimpalgaon Sarai in Chikhli tahsil. Pilgrims from the districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions and from Jalgaon and Dhulia districts in Western Maharashtra attend the urus.
" Sharif Sailani Shah, it is said, hailed from northern India, most probably Delhi. On coming to Pimpalgaon Sarai he cured many persons possessed by evil elements. His fame thereby spread all over the neighbouring districts and devotees started coming in large numbers for getting rid of evil elements. The 'dargah' is said to have been built when the Saint left this material world in 1908 and since then the ' urus' is held to perpetuate his memory.
The main entrance to the ' dargah' faces the north with another door facing the south, which is used as exit. The ' dargah ' measures 60' x 20'. It has a sloped tin sheet roof. At the centre of the shrine there is the tomb of Sharif Sailani Shah Miya constructed in bricks and lime. There is another tomb a furlong away to the east of the ' dargah' where Sharif Sailani Shah Miya died. This tomb is also covered with a tin shed.
The tomb is worshipped twice a day by burning ' lubhan' and offering prayers. The tomb is washed with rose-water on every Friday and the water is distributed amongst the devotees. It is not customary to offer cooked food by way of ' nayaz' though cooked food is sometimes offered by the devotees.
It is believed that the Saint is capable of showering blessings. Promises of offerings to the Saint are, therefore, made with various motives, and on fulfilment of the desires, the things promised, such as 'galaf, sweets, etc., are offered.
Pilgrims of all castes and creeds attend the ' urus' which is held from Phalguna Shud. 15 to Phalguna Vad. 9. The important days are Phalguna Vad. 5 to Phalguna Vad. 9 during which period approximately 70,000 persons attend. There are no programmes except reciting of prayers, offerings of coconuts, incense sticks, flowers, etc., up to Phalguna Vad 5.
On Phalguna Vad 5, a camel or a horse is hired by the Muja-var. It is decorated with flowers, and a 'galaf is placed on its back. A pot full of sandal-wood paste is also kept on the back of the animal which is led in procession to the ' dargah' from the house of Sheikh Karim Sheikh Husain at night to the accompaniment of music, a number of pilgrims and villagers reaching the ' dargah' at about 4-00 a.m. At the ' dargah' the Mujavar takes oc the ' falaf' and the post of sandal-wood paste which is applied to the tomb and it is then covered with a new ' galaf' This programme is called "sandal chadhavine". From Phalguna Vad. 6 to Vad. 8 ' kawalis' are sung by different persons and religious prayers are offered. On Phalguna Vad. 9 the last day of the ' urus' religious prayers called ' fatya' are offered at about 8-00 a.m. Most of the pilgrims come in the morning, offer coconuts and other materials such as flowers, 'galaf, etc., to the dargah and leave in the evening. Some, however, stay in the temporary sheds erected at the site of the 'urus' Some pass the night under a tree in the open ground, or fields.
The main items of entertainment are touring talkies, tamashas, swings, cradles, magic feats, exhibitions, etc.
The right to levy the market or fair fee during the period of the 'urus' is auctioned by the village Panchayat. The persons successful at the auction set up 'nakas' for collection of these fees. The rates of the fee charged are 12 paise per head-load, 25 paise per horse-load and 50 paise per cart-load. Touring talkies and other establishments of entertainment are charged a fee of Rs. 5 per day. The Gram Panchayat meets the expenditure on lighting, repairing of roads, sanitation, water-supply, demarcation of plots, etc., from the amount collected in auction.
Stalls of flowers, coconut, parched rice, hrass and copper utensils, are opened at the ' urus'. Grocery shops and shops of materials required for daily use are also opened. " [Fairs and Festivals, 1961.]
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