Unjha to Host Event in November | 500-acre,Rs4.8-cr Pandal for Patel meet

Palanpur: Incredible,but true.A mammoth pandal,
spread over 500 acres of land,is being put up for
five days at a cost of Rs.4.8 crore at Unjha in Patan
district for the 18th Shatabdi Rajat Jayanti Mahotsav
of Kadva Patels.
Around 15 lakh community members form
across the globe are expected to converge at Unjha
for the event to be held from November 28 to December
2. "called 'Umiyanagari' , the pandal will be air-
conditioned in parts, including the huge stage and
halls meant for VIPs,"Ambala chari,joint secretary
of Shri Umiya Mata Sansthan in Unjha ,told TOI.
One lakh people can be fed at a time in the
pandal."We feel it will be the biggest pandal raised
anywhere in the country for a religious purpose,"said
Narayan Patel, chairman of the mahotsav.

Interestingly, farmers have given away their
crops of two seasons just to set up 'Umiyanagari'
on their land.
This mahotsav is held every 25 years,but the
last time it was held was 33 years ago in 1976. Seven
lakh Kadva Patidar families from across the world
have been invited for the historic mahotsav. "We are
looking forward to welcome the huge number of
community members settled abroad, "said Manilal
Parel, convenor of the festival. They will be provided
free stay, food and other amenities.
The temple of Umiya Mata, an incarnatin of
Goddess Parvati, is located in the centre of the city
where thousands of devotees flock every day.
"The ancient temple was consecrated in AD
165 by Vrijirapal Singhji of Bihar, on the request of
farmers of Kadva Patidar community, during his
pilgrimage to Siddhpur.
It was renovated a century ago, "says
Manilal Patel .Unjha, 105 km from Ahmedabad, is
as famous for this temple as for its cumin seed and
isabgol markets.