The family Deity often consists of a God and a Goddess, and like most of the Indians,
Bhides belonging to 'Kokanastha Brahmin' branch also have their family deity. The God is
'Shankar' and the Goddess is 'Parvati'. Almost all the Nityundan Gotriya Bhides (with an
exception of very few) have 'Vyadeshwar' (meaning 'the destroyer of Evils') located
at Guhagar, as the God & 'Yogeshwari' or 'Jogeshwari' located at 'Ambajogai, as Goddess as
their family deity. These are essentially the various names of God Shankar, often ending
with suffix 'Ishwar' and that of Goddess Parvati often called 'Durga' or 'Amba'.
Some of the Bhides from Jamsande branch, have God 'Brahman' and Goddess Durga as their
family Deity.It must be noted here that, out of the various meanings of the word 'Brahman' one
meaning is 'Shankar'. In few other cases, migrated Bhides adopted the local 'Gram-Devata'
or the locally worshipped God & the Goddess as their family deity
Like the family deity, there are certain rituals to be performed. Some of the main rituals
that are performed by 'Bhides' are as follows: ( due to lack of Space, time & money, some of
them have become out-dated or irrelevant)
1)Ganesh Chathurthi & Gauri
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2)Navaratra & Mahalaxmi
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3)Mangalagauri
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4)Newly married couple to visit God 'Khandoba', Goddess 'Amba' etc.
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5)Diwali and Dev-diwali
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6)Navaratra of 'Khandoba' ( not very common)
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7)Bodan- after birth, after 'Vratabandha' ( Munjya ), after marriage.
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8)Gondhal & Jogava (not very common)
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9)Dohale Jewan- lunch and feast to relatives in the seventh month of Pregancy.
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