Akola: In a unique celebration of Hanuman Jayanti, a village near Akola has been drawing attention for an extraordinary tradition where monkeys are treated to a ceremonial feast and display striking discipline while doing so. The tradition, followed for over 15 years at the Shri Sant Mungasaji Maharaj Sansthan near Kothali Bujurg village, reflects a rare blend of devotion and compassion towards all living beings.As part of the celebration, preparations begin with mats laid out in rows and plates arranged systematically across the temple premises. Each plate is served with food items such as gram, soybean seeds, and sweets—considered suitable for the monkeys.Once everything is ready, the head of the institution, Ramdas Maharaj Shinde, calls out to the monkeys from the temple premises. Within moments, langurs descend from nearby trees and approach the arranged rows.In a scene that surprises visitors, the monkeys sit in an orderly manner in front of individual plates, resembling a well-disciplined community meal. There is no chaos or grabbing of food, but a calm and structured pattern of behavior rarely associated with wild animals.
