| Jejuri | |
| Other Name: | Jejurigad |
| Nickname: | Khandobachi Jejuri |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: |
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| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Jejuri town in India |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Maharashtra, India |
| Coordinates: | 18.2753°N 74.1608°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type3: | Taluka |
| Subdivision Name1: | Maharashtra |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pune |
| Subdivision Name3: | Purandar |
| Government Type: | Municipal Council |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Elevation M: | 718 |
| Population Total: | 14515[1] |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Jejurikar |
| Demographics Type1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Language |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Marathi |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 412303 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | +91-2115 |
| Registration Plate: | MH-12,MH-14, MH-42 |
Jejuri (Marathi pronunciation: [d͡ʒed͡zuɾiː]) is a city and a municipal council in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India.[2] Khandoba Mandir is an important Hindu temple to the Hindu Lord Khandoba,[3] one of the most visited tirtha (holy places) in Maharashtra.
Khandoba is a clan god for many Maharashtrian castes and communities, beloved as a god who grants wishes. His wives Mhalsa and Banai represent their caste groups, the Lingayat Vanya of Karnataka and the nomadic shepherds, the Dhangar tribe.[4]
In 1739 Chimaji Appa, a general of the Maratha Empire and brother of Peshwa Bajirao, defeated the Portuguese in the Battle of Vasai. After the war, Chimaji Appa and his Maratha soldiers took 38 church bells from there as memorabilia and installed them in 34 Hindu mandirs of Maharashtra. They installed one of these bells in Khandoba's mandir, where it remains to this day.[5]
The Koli brothers Naik Hari Makati and Naik Tatya Makaji were revolutionaries from Maharashtra who revolted against the British Hukumat. With Naik Rama Krishna of Kalambai, they raised an army of Ramoshis from Satara and revolted. In 1879, their Ramoshi army raided Poona fifteen times, then Satara many times after that. In February 1879, Naik Hari Makaji attacked a portion of Bhimthadi in Baramati. On the eighth raid into Baramati, Naik Hari Makaji was attacked by British police, but escaped, fighting hand to hand with two British policemen. He wounded them, but two Ramoshis were captured. At the beginning of March, Hari Makaji again rose, revolted and raided Indapur and raided, but was captured in Solapur in mid-March. Tatya Makaji led his revolution until the end of the year, raiding villages on the Purandar and Sinhagad ranges.
On 17 October, Koli Naik Tatya Makaji and some of his followers killed a Ramoshi who was an informer for British Major Wise. After that, Tatya Makaji Naik was brought to justice.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Jejuri is located at .[15] It has an average elevation of 718 metres (2355 feet) mean sea level.
Jejuri has lime deposits. The historic Shaniwar Wada fort, the central seat of Maratha Empire at Pune was completed in 1732 by the famed Peshwa Bajirao I, at a total cost of 16,110, With lime mined from the lime-belts of Jejuri.
India census,[16] Jejuri had a population of 14,515. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Jejuri has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 67%. In Jejuri, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
See main article: Khandoba Mandir. The Khandoba temple is located in Jejuri, which lies to the southeast of Pune in Maharashtra. The town is known for one of the most revered temples in the state, the Khandobachi Jejuri.[17] The temple is dedicated to Khandoba, also known as Mhalsakant or Malhari Martand or Mylaralinga. Khandoba is regarded as the 'God of Jejuri' and is held in great reverence by the Dhangars. The temple was the site of a historic treaty between Tarabai and Balaji Bajirao on 14 September 1752.[18]
Every Somavati Amavasya (new moon that falls on a Monday), devotees of Khandoba gather at the Jejuri temple with tonnes of turmeric, smearing it on each other and throwing it around amid energetic singing and dancing. The temple-town is known as ‘Sonyachi Jejuri’ (golden Jejuri) because of this colourful celebration.[19]
Jejuri Khandoba Temple can be easily divided into two separate sections - the Mandap and Garbhagriha.[20]