Situated at Malvan Jay Ganesh temple is now on a ‘must see’ list of tourists. The temple is built by Shri Jayantrao Salgaonkar, an astrologer of repute and creator of very popular almanac ‘Kalnirnay’. Situated in Medha locality of Malvan on ancestral family land of Salgaonkars, the temple has been constructed as per the holy principles of temple architecture in India. Shri Jayantrao personally supervised the construction. The presiding deity in the temple is Lord Ganesha, much revered Elephant God of Maharashtra. The idol is of pure gold. This main idol in the sanctum sanctorum is in the traditional pose with Riddhi- Siddhi (consorts of

ord) on both sides. Siddhi is holding Dhol (Indian traditional percussion instrument) and sword in her hand while Riddhi has pen and paper in her hands. The hall has eight idols of Ganesh carved in the ceiling. One gets a very comfortable feeling of Lord Ganesh looking benevolently from all the eight directions at his disciple. The interior of the temple is very rich and has used soothing colors. A five-day annual festival of Ganesh Jayanti is celebrated on 4th Day of Magh (month in Hindu Calendar). This day is also the anniversary day of the temple.

The speciality of this temple’s architecture can be seen on the early morning of Makar Sankranti (14th or 15th of January). On this day the early sunrays fall directly on the idol and one can see the glittering and shining Ganesha bathed in sunlight.Jayantrao Salgaonkar has named this Ganesha as Jay Ganesha so that the Ganesha may bestow ‘Jay’ (success) on his disciples.