Mahad

Mahad pronunciation  is a city in Raigad district (formerly Kulaba district) situated in the North Konkan region of Maharashtra state, India. It is located 108.5 km (67.4 mi) from District's Headquarter Alibag, and 167 km (104 mi) from Mumbai, the state capital of Maharashtra and economic capital of India, towards western coast. The city is well-known historically due to its Raigad fort, the capital of Maratha Empire in Shivaji Maharaj's era and revolutionary Mahad Satyagraha launched by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar at Chavdar Tale in the wake of Modern India.

For the village in Iran, see Mahad, Iran.

Mahād

Raigad Nagari
City & Sub-district
Savitri River near Mahad
Mahād
Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18.083°N 73.417°E / 18.083; 73.417
Country India
StateMaharashtra
DivisionKonkan
DistrictRaigad
Sub-districtMahad
Mahad City Municipal Council1866 A.D.
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Council
 • BodyMahad City Municipal Council
Area
 • Total12 km2 (5 sq mi)
Elevation
18 m (59 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total27,536
 • Density2,300/km2 (5,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Mahadkar, Raigadkar
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
 • RegionalKonkani, Agri-Koli
Sex Ratio and Literacy in Semi-Urban region (Mahad City)
 • Sex Ratio963 Females : 1000 Males
 • Literacy94%
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
402301 (Mahad City), 402309 (Mahad MIDC/Birwadi)
Telephone code02145
Vehicle registrationMH-06
Websitewww.raigad.nic.in
Gandharpale Buddhist Caves/Pandava Leni
Varandha ghat

Geography

Mahad is situated at southernmost tip of Raigad District in Konkan region. Mahad is surrounded by Sahyadri Mountains. Savitri river which originates from Savitri Point in Mahabaleshwar and flows through Mahad to the delta in Arabian sea via Bankot. Mahad has a tropical climate and sees extreme heavy rainfall during monsoon. Summers are very hot and Winters are cold with a thick fog lay over city during morning hours.

Mahad receives the highest rainfall in Raigad district because of the rain catcher forest of Raigad Fort Natural Reserve and a famous hill station Mahabaleshwar. Mahad averages with an annual rainfall of above 4,000 mm (160 in). The city is located at an altitude of 59 ft (18 m). Mahad has a very favourable climate for the growth of alphonso mango and coconut trees.

Natural Disasters

The Savitri River Bridge Incident

In 2016, a major flood hit Mahad because of the collapse of the British era bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway and cause great losses. Several disasters like floods and landslides have continuously devastated markets and old houses, specifically classic Konkani-styled architecture, causing great loss of life. This is due to lower elevation of the city compared to surrounding areas and being surrounded by rivers on all sides, making the city appear like a triangular island. Also, Konkan, receives predominantly very heavy rainfall in comparison to rest of Maharashtra. [1][2] The incident resulted in the loss of 42 lives.[3]

Tourist attractions nearby

Raigad, popularly known as "Gateway of Konkan", Mahad is among famous tourist destinations in Konkan. Some important tourist attractions are:

  • Raigad Fort
  • Pratapgad Fort
  • Gandhar Pale Buddhist Caves
  • Shivthar Ghal
  • Lingana Fort
  • Birwadi Fort
  • Warandha Ghat
  • Mulshi-Tamhini Ghat (Bhira)
  • Poladpur
  • Mahabaleshwar
  • Vireshwar Temple
  • Chavdaar Tale Park
  • Mangad
  • Hari-Hareshwar, Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach
  • Dapoli-Mandangad Beach

Etymology

The word "Mahad" derived from Konkani-marathi words "महा" (Mahā) and "हाट" (Hāt)."महा" meaning "Great or big" and "हाट" meaning "Market", which means "A Big Market", as the town was popularly known as.

History

City have about 2200 years old known reference.oldest reference of Mahad is found in historical documents in 225 BC.later around 130 AD,mahad was under rule of Buddhist king Vishnu Pulit of Kambhoja Dynasty.he built famous Gandharpale caves opposite to Mahad port.under his rule,Mahad mainly flourished as a famous port and big business centre which continued till period of British Raj.Notable development of Mahad as a business centre was under rule of Yadavas of Deogiri in 13 th century,who had great contribution to flourish business sector in entire Maharashtra.Yadavas are first rulers who made Marathi as official language of Maharashtra.Mahad was taken by British in 1818. Mahad was main place of administrative works when Raigad fort was made a capital of Shivaji.Mahad got its remarkable identity after great Socio-political movement of mahad Satyagraha by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

Chavdaar Tale Satyagraha and Freedom Movement

Mahad is considered as the Land of freedom fighters. Many revolutionary freedom movements of India originated in Mahad. It is famous for the Chavdaar Tale Water Satyagraha of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for Dalits at Chavdar Tale, which played as a turning point in Indian sociopolitical history. Dr. Ambedkar and his followers of over 2500 dalits marched to the tank, Dr. Ambedkar was the first to take his hand and sip water from the tank, followed by the rest. This was a revolutionary step for the time and broke the taboo of caste discrimination. This came to be known as the Mahad Satyagraha.[4] Many disciples of Lord Buddha and followers of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar visit Chavdaar Tale every year on Kranti Din (Day of Revolution).

However, this was not the end of the struggle, there was tremendous backlash from the rest of the community and some even performed a purification ritual to counter the act of revolution. Dr. Ambedkar made another statement by burning the Manusmriti at the very same spot on there on 25 December 1927.[5]

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Raigad fort

Apart from this, it had a glorious history during the rule of the great Maratha King chatrapati Shivaji maharaj. The capital of Hindavi Swarajya and Samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj is at Raigad fort. which is around 24 km (15 mi) from the city. It was part of Birwadi Subha (Tehsil) and was ruled by Birwadi Subhedar's Kadams (Mahamunkars). The samadhi of chatrapati Shivaji's mother Jijabai is at Pachad situated at foothills of Raigad fort. Hirkani was from Raigadwadi village. It is true and widely accepted that the chatrapati Shivaji maharaj's political victory was followed by the social revolution carried out by his teacher Saint Tukaram. The village Umarath of Tanaji Malusare & Kinjaloli of Murarbaji are also in the vicinity of Mahad.

Shivtharghal and Daasbodh

The Shivtharghal, which is the birthplace of the most spiritual book Dasbodh written by Samarth Ramdas-The Spiritual Guru of chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Mahad Port

Mahad was believed to be a flourishing port in the past. The famous Gul (Jaggery) of Shahupuri Kolhapur and Satara was exported to Gujrat via Mahad.

Now the banks of Savitri river have changed during the course of time and only creek water fishing is carried out and Mahad is no longer known as a port.

Yet the Mahad's market is still more prosperous than any other market in Southern Raigad.

Pandav Leni/Gangharpale Caves

According to the mythological story, Gandharpale Caves are the sculptured houses built in one night by the Pandavas. Originally these caves are Buddhist caves build during the reign of Prince Vishnupalita Kambhoja.[6]

Festivals

Mahad is one of the well-known holiday destinations in Konkan region. The festivals most celebrated by local people are Holi (which falls in summer around the month of March) and Ganpati festival (which falls during the monsoon, around the month of September).

Shimga Festival

The most important festival among whole Konkani community spreading from Thane, Raigad to Goa and Karawar coast is "Shimga". It is speciality of "Konkan and Goa". Every City, every town or Village has its own way of celebrating it. Almost every Konkani working day and night, sleeplessly in metropolis like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi or in foreign countries rush to their homeland during Shimga. People worship their local deities, fun-fair are organised; the Palkhis of local deities are main attraction and is considered prestigious among locals. Each town represents its own Religious Culture and Traditions.

Shimgotsav in Mahad

Lord Vireshwar is the most-worshipped Local deity of Mahad. The temple of Lord Vireshwar was believed to be constructed during or before Shivaji Maharaj Era. A local fair is organised during shimga called "Mahad chi Jatra", uniquely known as "Chabina Utsav of Mahad". The "Palkhis" of Seven sisters of Lord Vireshwar who are Gram-devi (goddess) of nearby villages and another towns like Mangaon, Poladpur and Khed are brought at Lord Vireshwar Temple in Mahad. Goddess Zolai Devi is considered the most favourite sister of Lord Vireshwar. The people are so devoted that they bring Palkhis from many miles far villages by walking, sometimes bare-footed, they consider this holy and sacred and feel lucky to be part of it.

Economy

Central Market

Apart from this, Mahad was the central market for people of Poladpur, the Raigad villages and the hill station Mahabaleshwar. It has a large market. The city is surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain ranges and the Savitri, Kal and Gandhari rivers originating through Mahabaleswar, hills in Mulshi and Raigad fort respectively. Mahad was a flourishing port in the past. "Mahadi Gul" was well known in Gujarat, which is made in Satara, Pune districts and exported to other locations through Mahad's port.

Mahad M.I.D.C. and Economic Corridor

Mahad MIDC

Mahad is now well-developed with town infrastructure. Mahad MIDC which is set-up near Birwadi is the small Chemical industry cluster. It houses several polymer, pharmaceutical, organic, pigments, fertilizers, Aroma Chemical manufacturing industries. Notable industries like: •Pidilite •Piramal Healthcare •Sandoz •Lakshmi Organic •Hikal ltd. Company •Maharashtra Aldehydes •Sudarshan •Maharashtra Seamless •EMBIO •Privi Organics India Limited[7] Mahad consists of two Industrial zones- Mahad-Birwadi and Mahad Additional Industrial zone.

Bharatmala

Mahad is part of proposed Panvel-Mahad-Chiplun-Panjim Economic corridor under Bharatmala Project.

Civic Administration

Mahad falls under the Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency, along with Pen, Alibaug, Shrivardhan, Dapoli and Guhagar. In 2019, Sunil Tatkare from NCP won the Lok Sabha Seat for the constituency.[8]

Transport

Airways

Nearest airports:

Railway

Konkan railway line starts from Roha-Kolad and exits Raigad district via Veer. Main railway stations in Mahad is Veer railway station

Road

National Highway NH 66 (previously known as NH 17) passes through Mahad. It connects Panvel (Southern Navi-Mumbai) to Kanyakumari, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

MSRTC

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has a Bus Depot at Mahad for public transport. Buses plying Mahad Khed Chiplun Ratnagiri have halt at Mahad MSRTC Bus depot.

GSRTC

Since many people from Mahad are commuting to Cities like Surat Vapi and Valsad in Gujrat even before the Independence, for means of inter-state public transport Gujrat State Road transport corporation started Buses from Mahad and Poladpur bus stand which are under operations of Mahad MSRTC Bus Depot to Surat and other cities in Gujrat.

Notes
  1. Mahād (Approved) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  2. "Mahād". World Gazetteer. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
  3. Sep 14, George Mendonca | TNN |; 2016; Ist, 05:56. "Mahad: Locals shun fish from Mahad river where 42 drowned | Navi Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 April 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. Harad, Tejas (19 March 2017). "The Significance Of Mahad Satyagraha: Ambedkar's Protest March To Claim Public Water". Feminism In India. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. Harad, Tejas (19 March 2017). "The Significance Of Mahad Satyagraha: Ambedkar's Protest March To Claim Public Water". Feminism In India. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. Ahir, D. C. (2003). Buddhist sites and shrines in India: history, art, and architecture (1. ed.). Delhi: Sri Satguru Publ. p. 198. ISBN 8170307740.
  7. http://www.privi.com/contact-us
  8. "Raigad Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live: Raigad Constituency Election Results, News, Candidates, Vote Paercentage". News18. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
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gollark: ```rustpub struct List<T> { head: Link<T>,}type Link<T> = Option<Box<Node<T>>>;struct Node<T> { elem: T, next: Link<T>,}```
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