Festival · Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi
Champa Shashthi 2026
The last of Khandoba's six days. Throw the bhandara: yelkot yelkot, jai Malhar!
Date, tithi and timing
Times are for Nashik. The app gives times for your city.
Date by city
The date is the same in every city listed.
Next year, 2027
Quick facts
- Also known asKhandoba's Navratra, Malhari Shashthi, Subramanya Shashthi (Karnataka)
- WhereMaharashtra and Karnataka; Jejuri above all
- Puja forKhandoba, also Martand Bhairav and Malhari
- In one lineThe day Khandoba destroyed the demons Mani and Malla.
Champa Shashthi, in a little more detail
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About the festival
From Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada to Shashthi, Khandoba has six days of navratra. Shashthi, the last and the biggest, is Champa Shashthi.
Khandoba is the most widely kept family god in Maharashtra, from farmers and shepherds to Brahmins and royal houses. So this is not a temple festival alone. It's kept at home.
He is a warrior god: on horseback, sword in hand, with his wives Mhalsa and Banai beside him. People trust him to protect them and to answer their vows.
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The story of Mani and Malla
Two demon brothers, Mani and Malla, grew drunk on a boon from Brahma. They broke the sages' sacrifices and tormented people, and the sages called on Shiva.
Shiva took the form of Martand Bhairav and fought them for six days, killing both on Shashthi. Those six days are the navratra kept today.
As he died, Mani asked for a place in every Khandoba temple. Malla's head fell at the temple steps, where devotees still tread as they go in. Pleased with his courage, Khandoba took the name Mallari, the enemy of Malla: today's Malhari.
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In Maharashtra and beyond
At home a ghat is set up on Pratipada and a nandadeep, a lamp that never goes out, burns for six days. On Shashthi the navratra closes.
The naivedya is vangyache bharit, smoky roasted brinjal, with rodga or bhakri. Many who skip brinjal through Chaturmas start again with today's bharit.
Then the tali: a coconut, bhandara (turmeric), betel nut and betel leaves on a plate, lifted three times by everyone together to cries of yelkot yelkot, jai Malhar.
At Jejuri the fort fills for the yatra. Devotees throw bhandara until the whole hill turns gold. In Karnataka the same day is Subramanya Shashthi, kept at Kukke Subramanya.
How to do the puja
In short: Six days of Khandoba: the ghat and the nandadeep from Pratipada, bharit-bhakri and the tali on Shashthi.
- 1On Pratipada, set up the ghat as your family does, with Khandoba's tak or image.Every family has its own way: keep to the one your home has always followed.
- 2Light the nandadeep, and keep it burning for all six days.Keep enough oil or ghee, and keep the lamp away from curtains and children.
- 3Add one flower garland to the ghat each day, and read the Malhari Mahatmya.One more garland each day makes six by Shashthi.
- 4Eat once a day (ekbhukta), as many families do through these six days.If you're unwell or elderly, skip the single meal and eat simply.
- 5On Shashthi, offer Khandoba bel leaves, flowers and bhandara.Bhandara is turmeric. Keep it away from everyone's eyes.
- 6Offer vangyache bharit with bhakri or rodga as naivedya.A little of the naivedya goes to a dog, Khandoba's mount, after it is honoured.
- 7Fill the tali, lift it together, and do the aarti.The tali holds a coconut, bhandara, betel nut and betel leaves. Everyone calls out "yelkot yelkot jai Malhar" as it is lifted.
- 8Close the navratra with the bharit-bhakri meal.Some families break the fast the next day instead.
What you needTick as you go
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to keep all six days?
Homes where Khandoba is the family deity keep the six-day navratra by their kuladachar. If yours doesn't, the Shashthi puja, the bharit-bhakri naivedya and the tali are enough.
Why bharit and bhakri?
It's the customary naivedya for Khandoba on Champa Shashthi. In many homes brinjal isn't eaten from Chaturmas until this day, and this naivedya brings it back.
Any care to take with bhandara?
Use pure turmeric, and keep it away from eyes. If it gets in, rinse with clean water. Don't throw it at small children's faces.
I'm going to Jejuri today. What should I keep in mind?
The climb up and down the fort gets very crowded. Start early, hold on to children and the elderly, take the steps slowly, and carry water.
Should I eat only once if I'm unwell, pregnant or elderly?
Health comes first. Eat simply, and keep the puja, the naivedya and the tali with all your heart. If you're unsure, ask your doctor.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.