18th SILVER ANNIVERSARY MAHOTSAV

The Umiya Mataji Temple came into the being in the year Samvat 156 – 212 and the Pranpratistha was done by the king Vrajpal Sinhji. After 1800 years it was again decided to induce the new life into the statue and do the Pranpratistha again with the Shastriya rituals and hence from 23/11/1976 to 29/11/1976, the 18th century Mahotsava was celebrated. Nearly 18 lacs devotees had come to visit the same and ay their homage.The entire population of Unjha worked very hard to make this Mahotsava a historical success. Government bodies, newspapers and radio also gave huge contribution.

The main sponsorer of this mahotsava was, late shri Somabhai Shankardas Mollot unjhawala. The religious flag hoisting was done by Shri Patel Balchandradas Umeddas. The main priest for the mahotsava was Main Acharya of Nadiad, learned priest Agnihotri Shri Shukdevji Maharaj.
At the beginning of the Mahotsava, the trust had only Rs. 7 lacs and by the end of the mahotsava the community offered Rs 52 lacs in the feet of Mataji. With the expenditure to the tune of Rs. 8 lacs, there were savings of Rs. 44 lacs.
Post the 18th century Mahotsava, the Patidar samaj united. The place of Mataji became the centre of trust and prayers, They thought about the development of the community and travelers. Pathikashrams, canteens etc laced with modern amentites were developed for the visiting devotees. The Silver Jali, the the golakh, kanthdo and the temple doors were constructed. Satsang hall land was donated by Shree patel Talsidas Jordas Rusate and is identified by his name.The pathikashrams were developed at Ambaji, Bahucharaji and Sola- Ahmedabad.

Umiya Mataji Social Responsibility Activities

More and more people started to visit the Maa Umiyas temple and the donations increased manifold. The community also took huge strides in progress. They started to think about the backward and deprived people of the society, and thinking of it as their moral and religious duty, they have actively taken forward their social responsibility.

The Important Facts about the 18th Century Mahotsava


  • 18 to 20 lac people visted the temple premises
  • Rupees 52 lacs were offered to Mataji
  • ‘The Kadva Patidar community united with this celebration. The worship and trust on the Mataji increased manifold. The brotherhood also increased.
  • The cultured people celebrated cultural Mahotsava
  • People awoke to new life with this Mahotsava
  • With the blessings of Mataji, all became happy and prosperous and started to enjoy better standard of living.
  • The girl child was nurtured.
  • People atarted coming once a year to the temple.
  • Kadva patidar community became socially active and respectable.
  • This Mahotsava became the stepping stone of the progress path of the kadva Patidar community.

The Temple after the Mahotsava


The 18th century mahotsava was celebrated and the Kadva Patidar community became united. The Shree Umiya Mataji temple became the centre of Kadva Patidar communitys trust and faith. Society started looking with respect towards the flag of the Mataji. The trust took upon itself the social responsibility too besides the religious duties, that led to various socially relevant activites being undertaken.
First use of the funds collected during the Mahotsava was made towards making the visitng devotees comfortable.In the year 1977-78, the Pathikashram and canteens, laced with the modern amenities were built. Their inauguration was done by Shri Sheth Hariprasad Durgaprasad Lashkari. There were 36 rooms, 3 store rooms, one conference room and 5 big halls. The canteens were big enough to accommodate 400 people together.The meals were cooked on the cooking gas. Also in the temple, the silverjali, silver golakh and silverkanthedo were constructed. The silver doors were constructed with the 368 kilograms of silver.
Besides the Tower, Rs. 17 lacs were spent to build a grand office. Above that 15 rooms were built for the visitors and one conference room was made. In the southern part of the Matajis temple a Satsang Hall was made. In lieu of the land donated, the Satsang hall bore the name of Shri Patel Talshidas Jordas Rusat.
Besides these, above the Mansarovar, more 30 rooms were constructed for the travelers, out of which 3 rooms were Air conditioned.
Also, there were Pathikashrams built at Ambaji, Bahucharaji and Sola-Ahmedabad.

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