The Shivneri Seva Mandal of Shindevewadi at Dadar has been celebrating Navrati festival in a very unique way. This Navaratri festival Mandal was started by the late Bollywood actor Bhagwan Dada and his brother Shankar Palav. This Mandal has actually changed the concept of conventional celebration of Navaratri festival. When we talk about Navratri festival we usually see the celebration by Garba or Dandiya. But instead of Garba or Dandiya, every year this Mandal organizes Kabaddi tournament during Navratri festival as a part of celebration. The seasonal competition of Kabaddi begins every year with this season. Since last 50 years, this Mandal has given many prominenet Kabaddi and Kho-Kho players.
This is the 83rd year of Shivneri Seva Mandal for Navaratri festival celebration, indeed this is the only Mandal in Mumbai which is heading towards the Golden Jubilee. Bhagwan Dada and his brother Shankar Palav started Om Bharat Krida Mandal in 1936 and established the Goddess Durga idol in Navaratri in the year 1936 near Dadar Railway Station. Citizens from Naigaon, Bhoiwada, Dadar and Hindmata come together and establish this goddess.
Along with preserving the tradition, the Om Bharat Krida Mandal started kabaddi matches to encourage the players in the locality. Bhagwan Dada used to give ‘Palav Shield’ as a prize for the Kabaddi competition. Even when Bhagwan Dada shifted from Dadar, the Mandal continued the tradition of organizing Kabaddi tournaments. However in 1969, Mohan Naik and Uday Lad sponsored the Kabaddi tournament by organizing it under Shivneri Seva Mandal.
Shivneri Seva Mandal has been organizing Kabbadi Competition for 50 years in a row. This is why this Kabaddi tournament is becoming the beginning of the Kabaddi competitions in the country. So far, an international Kabaddi player Suvarna Bartakke, Ajay Mayekar, and Nandu Waghmare, talented players from the Young Kabaddi group have come from this tournament. Also, the rising Kho-Kho player Sallyi Dune is also practicing in this Mandal only, informed Sunil Kambli, Chief Executive of Shivneri Seva Navratri Mandal.
Suresh More, President, Shivneri Seva Mandal
Along with Kabaddi tournaments in Navaratri festival, the Mandal also organizes various social programs such as lectures for 10th standard students, English speaking course, free specs camps, Temple visits for senior citizens and women, medical check-up camps. Large number of devotees coming from outside of Mumbai also, we receives more than 800 saris offered to Goddess in nine days. Some of these saris are auctioned and more than half of the saris are distributed to the tribal women.
Suvarna Barttake, International Kabaddi Player
I am a resident of Shindevwadi of Dadar, the Shivneri Seva Mandal has made me a player. I played Kabaddi at the sub junior and junior level from this Mandal only. After the four month practice in rainy season, this tournament gives you the experience of playing in the actual competition and that is why all the kabaddi players like me are keen to play in this tournament which is the beginning of the Kabbadi season.
