PLACES

AHERI.

AHERI, WITH THE RIVER PRANHITA FLOWING A LITTLE TO ITS WEST is a village of 4,608 inhabitants in Sironca tahsil, principally growing rice, jowar and kulthi. Agriculture is the primary occupation of the people and rice their staple rood. However, a few are also engaged in tembru leaves gathering which are used in bidi rolling. Aheri was formerly the headquarters, of Aheri Zamindari, the largest of the Candrapur Zamindaris. Except a large talav spread over nearly 60 to 70 acres to the west of the village, there is nothing of especial note. However, a group of three shrines situated in the heart of the village and dedicated to Sankar, Vithoba and Hanuman with that of Sankar in the centre, may passingly be noted. Of these the one dedicated to Vithoba and lying on the left of that of Sankar, is the largest with a fairly spacious rectangular sabhamandap and a domed sikhar with a spire. All these are simple structures claiming no architectural beauty. On Dasara the palanquin of sankar is taken in procession round the village. The celebrations last for two days and are attended by a large number of devotees. About a mile to the west of the village is a Asram sala maintained by the Bharat Sevak Samaj where orphans are fed and educated up to the middle school stage. Aheri has two more primary schools and an agricultural high school. There are a dispensary with a maternity ward and a family planning centre attached to it, a veterinary dispensary, a police station, a post office, a branch of the district central co-operative bank and a rest house. The village has two rice mills also. A large weekly market is held on Saturdays at which corn, groceries and cloth are principally sold.

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