Rain predicted to be good this year in ‘Ghat Mandani’ at Bhendwal, Maharashtra

Buldhana, Maharashtra – ‘Ghat Mandani’, a tradition of 350 years to predict the near future, was again set on the auspicious occasion of ‘Akshaya Tritiya’ in Bhendwal village of Jalgaon Jamod taluka in Buldhana district. On Friday, the village of Bhendwal readied itself for the annual ritual of ‘Ghat Mandani.’ the descendants of Chandrabhan Maharaj Wagh, Punjaji Maharaj and Sharangdhar Maharaj, prepared the ‘Ghat’ with the usual rituals and the stage was set for predictions on crop, water, social, economic and political conditions.

As per the predictions, June will see less monsoon rainfall while July will receive normal rainfall. Heavy rainfalls have been predicted in the third month which will be August and September will receive good rainfall. Heavy rainfall will inflict damage on crops. However, security in India will continue to remain strong and the nation will face no external threat, it is predicted. As for the crops, paddy, bajra and sesame crops will have good production. Farmers of wheat and gram will have good crops and will also fetch good prices as wheat prices are likely to increase. Cotton and ‘tur’ will see average production.

This year, however, the usual predictions about the ‘King’ or any political matter will not be made given the ongoing elections for which the model code of conduct is in force.

How is the Ghat built (‘Ghat Mandani’) ?

As is the practice, the descendants of Chandrabhan Maharaj – Punjaji Maharaj and Sarangdhan Maharaj – on the day of ‘Akshay Trutiya’, dig a hole in the farm in village Bhandwal on the banks of Purna river in Jalgaon Jamod taluka of Buldhana district. A pot consisting of 18 types of grains like wheat, jowar, tur, urid, moong, gram, barley, sesame, rice, etc is placed in the hole. A water-filled pot is kept upon a lump of earth. Betal nut, ‘puri’, ‘papad’, and ‘Sandoli-Kurdai’ are kept near the pot. No one stays at the place in the night. People again gather on the following daybreak to see the changes and make predictions accordingly. Viewing these changes, predictions are made on crops, rains, the country’s economic development, security and political happenings. On Saturday, at 6 a.m., Punjaji Maharaj and Sarangdhar Maharaj inspected the ‘Ghat’ and made predictions for the year ahead.