At Shirgaon in the Thána District, the worship of ancestors is performed on the day of the father’s death, every year. On any auspicious occasion the rite called Nandi shráddha is performed at the beginning of the ceremony. It is believed that evil spirits or ghosts have to remain in the ghostly state for about one thousand years, or at least until one of the descendants in the family goes to a holy place like Káshi (Benares) and there performs the shráddha rites of his ancestors.[21]
At Málád in the Thána District, the worship of ancestors is performed on the day of the father’s death every month till the completion of one year by inviting Bráhmans and giving them a feast. This is done among Bráhmans only. The other communities worship their ancestors by performing the rite called Chata Shráddha and by giving Shidha, i.e., rice, pulse, vegetables and ghi to Bráhman priests. A feast is then given to their castemen.[22]
At Kolhápur, ancestors, Mahants and Sádhus are worshipped by the rites known as the Puranic ritual, that is, no Vedic mantras are repeated while performing these rites. It is a common belief in this province that the soul of the person who has committed a murder, or has incurred debt and enmity, is obliged to repay the debt by being born again as a servant or in some other subordinate capacity of the debtor.[23]
The tombs of the Hindu and Mahomedan saints are considered holy, but they are not supposed to possess miracular powers.[24] The following is a list of saints who have been deified and worshipped by the people of the Ratnágiri District. (1) Mukundráj, (2) Dnyándev, (3) Tukárám, (4) Eknáth, (5) Námdev, (6) Rámdás, (7) Akkalkotche Swámi, (8) Ranganáth, (9) Dev Mámlatdár, (10) Kabir, (11) Kamál, (12) Nipat Niranjan, (13) Tulshidás, (14) Pundalik, (15) Vashistha, (16) Dattátraya, (17) Sohiroba, (18) Gorakshanath, (19) Purnanáth.
At Shiroda in the Ratnágiri District a practice prevails of making vows to the tombs of women who burnt themselves as Satvis. Vows are also made to the Musalman Pirs, and offerings are often made in fulfilment of such vows.[25]
At the fort of Vishálgad there is a tomb of a Pir (saint). It is usual to make a vow to worship this Pir with fetters on one’s legs, and it is believed that, at the time of worship, the chains break off.[26]
There is at Dahibáv in the Ratnágiri District a tomb of a Hindu saint named Shri Anand Murti, to which the people of that locality make vows when severe calamities befall them, and it is believed that the saint listens to their prayers.[27]
When a Bráhman assumes the garb of a recluse or Sanyási, he is considered by the people as sacred as a Hindu god, and is worshipped with great reverence, provided he abides by the rules contained in the shástras.[28]
There is a tomb of a Pir at Báwa Málangad in the Panwel taluka of the Kolába District, where the people make vows to the Pir, and it is believed that the Pir fulfils their wishes. Hindu saints such as Rámdás, Dnyáneshwar, Námdev are held in great honour in this District.[29]
There is a temple of Nágoba at Avas in the Kolába District where persons suffering from snake-bite, if carried to the temple while still alive, are said to be cured.[30]