On a hill at Wadi Ratnagiri near Kolhapur in Maharashtra stands the Jyotiba temple, dedicated to the deity Jyotiba — revered as Kedareshwar, a form combining Shiva and other gods — a guardian deity and kuladaivat of many families of the region. Tradition holds that Jyotiba aided the Goddess Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur in her battle against demons, and he is honoured as a mighty protector.
The hill temple is famed for its Chaitra Yatra, when vast crowds gather and the air fills with clouds of pink gulal flung in joyous devotion, turning the hill rose-coloured. Reached by road or steps amid sweeping views, Jyotiba draws great throngs, especially on Sundays and at the full moon, and is among the most vibrant hill-shrines of western Maharashtra.
