According to local tradition, the goddess Mahalakshmi is believed to have manifested in Dahanu to protect the coastal and agrarian communities of the region. Oral accounts maintain that the deity originally resided on a hill at Vivalvedhe, known as Mahalakshmi Gad. During an annual pilgrimage, a devotee is said to have struggled while climbing the steep hill to have her darśana (sight of the goddess). Moved by compassion, the goddess is believed to have descended and taken residence at the base of the hill, where her shrine stands today. Another popular belief links the Dahanu shrine with the larger Mahalakshmi traditions of Maharashtra. Some versions connect her with the
Kolhapur Mahalakshmi, stating that after blessing the Karveer region, the goddess journeyed northwards and chose Dahanu as one of her abodes. In the local traditions, Mahalakshmi is venerated as a jāgr̥ta daivat (a “living” or “awakened” deity), believed to actively protect her devotees and ensure prosperity of the land. The temple’s annual yātrā (fair), held for fifteen days beginning on Hanuman Jayanti, reflects her enduring importance in the cultural and ritual life of Dahanu and the surrounding tribal and agrarian communities. ==Navratri Festival==