Siddhanath Temple, Mhaswad, Hindu temple in Mhaswad, India

Siddhanath Temple in Mhaswad houses a decorated image of Siddhanath beneath an arched niche: a dark, rounded face with large eyes, a red patterned cloth crown and a smaller red-and-pink headpiece, flanked by two round silver-colored plates with trident-like cut-outs. Thick garlands of yellow flowers and green leaves are draped over a light blue cloth, with a pink-and-white striped cloth below and a long silver pole leaning at the right.

The temple was built in the 11th century by the Chalukya rulers of Badami, who regarded Siddhanath as their ancestral god. In 1738, Dubal of Karad, a Chalukya descendant, completed the other half of the temple. Since then, all rituals have been performed in the presence of Dubal family members.

The annual Mhaswad Yatra honours Siddhanath with a Ratha Yatra: devotees pull a chariot of Shree Siddhanath around the town, smeared in pink gulal. The fair draws lakhs of visitors from across India. The town lies on the Manganga River, about 56 km from Pandharpur.

Mhaswad lies about 56 km from Pandharpur in Satara district, and the temple stands in the town near the Manganga river. Time a visit outside the annual Mhaswad Yatra, when devotees smeared in pink gulal escort the chariot of Shree Siddhanath through the streets and crowds arrive from across India.

The Dubal family of Karad built the second half of the temple in 1738, and since then every ritual has been performed in the presence of its members. The town's annual fair, the Mhaswad Yatra, honours Siddhanath with a chariot procession, and devotees smear themselves with pink gulal.