A GRAND DUSSHERA IS CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR AT JAMNIA FORT IN PRESENCE OF ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM 86 VILLAGES OF ERSTWHILE PRINCELY STATE.

ABOUT 35 KM FROM MHOW CITY AT JAMNIA FORT, THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED WITH THE HUES OF RITUALS AND CUSTOMS OF ERSTWHILE JAMNIA STATE. THOUSANDS OF VILLAGERS GATHERS AT FORT BEFORE DUSK THOUGH THE RITUALS START AT 8 AM IN THE MORNING WITH PRAYER AT PALIYA BABA, A JAMNIA FAMILY ANCESTRAL PLACE.

THE EVENING BEGINS WITH CEREMONIAL “HIMADRI SNAN” OR ROYAL BATH AMID OF CHANTING OF SHLOKAS BY 21 PANDITS. THE WATER FOR THE CEREMONY BROUGHT FROM 52 WATER BODIES FROM THE REGION. A HUGE PROCESSION OF VARIOUS TRIBAL GROUP FROM DIFFERENT VILLAGERS REACHES A SHAMI TREE AT DUSSHERA STHAN (DIVINE PLACE), ABOUT HALF A KM FROM THE FORT TO WORSHIP IT. THE REGIONAL DANCE AND SONGS ADD TO FESTIVITIES OF THE PROCESSION. THE FESTIVAL THEN CULMINATES BY SETTING RAVANA IN FLAMES. AKHADAS, USE OF TRADITIONAL WEAPON, DEPICTION OF RAMLILA ARE OTHER FEATURES OF THE JAMNIA FESTIVITIES.

JAMNIA FAMILY, A NATIVE OF JALORE (CHOUHANS), RAJASTHAN, MIGRATED TO MANDU IN 1303 DURING ALLAUDDIN KHILJI RULE. THEY CONSTRUCTED A HUGE FORT JUST ABOVE THE “NILKHANTH MAHADEV” TEMPLE IN MANDU, WHICH IS ALSO CALLED “SONGARH FORT.” THE REMAINS OF THE FORT STILL EXIST. ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THE ROYAL OF JAMNIA STATE GIVEN 86 VILLAGES NEAR INDORE IN JAMNIA AND SINCE THEN THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE AND CONSTRUCTED A NEW FORT AT JAMNIA WHICH HAS COMPLETED TODAY MORE THAN 100 YEARS.