Picture an entire hill town turning gold. Not with lights or paint, but with turmeric, thrown fistful after fistful into the air by hundreds of thousands of devotees until the temple, the 400 steps, the sky and everyone standing under it are coated in a shining yellow. This is the Bhandara festival of Jejuri, Maharashtra’s great turmeric festival, and it is one of the most visually staggering religious events in all of India.
When is the Jejuri Bhandara festival in 2026?
The Bhandara festival does not fall on a single fixed date. It is celebrated on Somvati Amavasya, the new moon day that falls on a Monday, which happens only two or three times a year. In 2026, the two Somvati Amavasya dates, and therefore the two big Bhandara days at Jejuri, are:
| Date (2026) | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2026 | Monday | Somvati Amavasya (Bhandara) |
| 9 November 2026 | Monday | Somvati Amavasya (Bhandara) |
Of the two, the 9 November 2026 date is the more comfortable for travel, falling in the cool, dry post-monsoon season. The June date sits in early monsoon. Both draw enormous crowds, so plan well ahead for either.
What is the Bhandara festival?
The Bhandara festival is a turmeric festival dedicated to Lord Khandoba, worshipped at the Khandoba Temple in Jejuri, about 50 kilometres from Pune. Khandoba, also known as Malhari or Martanda Bhairava, is regarded as a form of Lord Shiva. He is the family deity, or kuldaivat, of many communities across Maharashtra and northern Karnataka, especially farming and warrior communities, shepherds and the Dhangar tribe.
“Bhandara” refers to the sacred turmeric powder that gives the festival its name and its colour. Devotees buy packets of turmeric and throw it into the air and over one another and the deity, shouting cries of “Yelkot Yelkot, Jai Malhar!” The entire hilltop shrine turns a brilliant gold, which is why the temple is affectionately called Sonyachi Jejuri, the Golden Jejuri.
Why turmeric, and why this day?
For the devotees of Khandoba, turmeric symbolises gold, purity and prosperity, exactly what they seek from their lord. In traditional images, Khandoba is shown riding a white horse and holding a bhandara-patra, a bowl of turmeric, in one of his four arms. Throwing the bhandara is therefore both an offering and a blessing.
The choice of Somvati Amavasya is deliberate. A new moon that coincides with a Monday, the day dedicated to Shiva, is considered rare and highly auspicious in Hindu tradition. Because this alignment happens only a couple of times a year, each Bhandara day carries special spiritual weight, and the crowds swell accordingly.
Schedule of the day: when the rituals happen
The Bhandara day follows a set order of rituals, published each time by the temple trust, Shri Martand Devsansthan, Jejuri. The timings below are from the official programme and follow broadly the same pattern on every Somvati Amavasya, so you can plan your day around them:
| Time (approx.) | Ritual |
|---|---|
| Around 2:00 AM | Palkhi (palanquin) departs from Shri Khandoba Mandir at the fort (Shrinche Palkhi Prasthan) |
| 6:00 to 6:30 AM | Ceremonial bathing of the deity (Utsavmurti snan) |
| Morning | Palkhi procession descends to the Karha river, where the main rituals, bath, puja and aarti are completed |
| 7:00 to 7:30 AM | On the return, the sheda ritual is performed near Shri Janai Mandir toward the Maruti temple |
| Late morning onward | Palkhi returns to the fort; the deity is seated and the day concludes |
The great throwing of the bhandara, the golden turmeric, builds through the morning as the crowds gather and the palanquin moves, reaching its peak as the procession makes its way. Arriving early, before dawn, lets you follow the palkhi from the start and see the hill turn gold as the sun comes up. Note that exact timings are set by the temple trust for each occasion and can vary slightly, so confirm the programme for your specific date before you travel.
What makes the Jejuri Bhandara unique
- A town turned to gold. There are few sights in India like the entire hill fort, its steps and its people glowing yellow under a haze of turmeric. It is often compared to a festival of colour, but here the colour is a single, radiant gold.
- The 400-step climb. The temple sits atop a hill, reached by a long flight of around 400 steps through a series of stone arches. The climb itself is considered an act of devotion.
- Scale. A major Somvati Amavasya Bhandara can draw crowds of half a million people or more, all united in a single, peaceful celebration.
- A photographer’s dream. Few festivals offer imagery like this. If you shoot, protect your gear from the fine turmeric powder, which gets into everything.
How to reach Jejuri
Jejuri is in Pune district, about 50 kilometres from Pune city, roughly a 1.5 to 2 hour drive. The nearest airport is Pune International Airport. Jejuri also has its own railway station on the Pune to Daund line, about 2 kilometres from the foot of the hill. From Mumbai, it is around 240 kilometres via Pune. On Bhandara days the town is extremely crowded, so arrive early and allow extra time.
Tips for visiting on a Bhandara day
- Wear white or yellow clothes you do not mind staining permanently. The turmeric does not fully wash out.
- Carry water and a damp cloth for your eyes. The fine powder floats everywhere and can irritate.
- Protect cameras and phones in a sealed cover or bag.
- Start the climb early to beat the biggest crowds and the midday heat.
Plan your Jejuri Bhandara trip with Travebrate
The Bhandara is exactly the kind of festival we love at Travebrate. It happens only on rare Somvati Amavasya days, in a hill town most travellers have never heard of, and it rewards knowing precisely when to be there. We are India trip planners who time trips to the country’s festivals and seasons. We track over 300 of them, and we build your itinerary around the right dates so you catch the moments most travellers miss. Jejuri also pairs naturally with Pune and the forts and hill country of western Maharashtra, making an easy addition to a wider trip.
We plan your itinerary around your dates and interests, give you two consultation calls, and hand you a day-by-day PDF you can follow. We do not book your flights or hotels, and we take no commissions, so every suggestion is about your experience. You book the trip your way. One personalised itinerary is a flat USD 100.
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Jejuri Bhandara 2026: Monday 15 June and Monday 9 November, on Somvati Amavasya, at the Khandoba Temple, Jejuri, Pune district, Maharashtra.