Mahapex 2016 :

A) Special Cover on Pandav Leni – 16th January 2016

Pandu Leni (also known as Trirashmi Caves and other variations) are a group of 24 caves carved between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD, representing the Hinayana Buddhist caves. These caves have nothing to do with the Pandavas of Mahabharata. Leni is Marathi word for caves. The location of the caves is a holy Buddhist site and is located about 8 km south of Nashik in Maharashtra State.

The most important caves in this group are No. 18 and 20. Except cave No. 18 the remaining caves are Viharas or monasteries excavated in CIRCA 2nd Century A.D. Cave No. 3 was excavated at the orders of the Mother of the famous Satvahana King Gautamiputra Satkarni, who held sway over a large part of the Deccan in the 2nd Century A.D. In cave No. 10 there is an inscription regarding the donations made by Ushadatta, the son - in - law of Kshatrapa Nahapana (CIRCA 120 A.D.). Similarly cave No. 17 contains an inscription stating that a "Yavana" (the Greek) named Indragnidatta and his son Dharmarakshit excavated this vihara with a shrine and the cisterns. Cave No. 18 is the oldest and also the most important, being the chaitya - the hall of congregation. According to the inscription engraved on the 5th and 6th pillars, this chaitya was excavated by Bhattapalika, wife of the Royal Officer Aghetyana and daughter of the Royal Officer Arahataya. Another inscription under the horse shoe arch of the entrance records the gift of a village by the inhabitants of the Nashik for the upkeep of the chaitya. Cave No. 20, first taken by an Ascetic name Bhopaki was completed by Vasu, the wife of Mahasenapati Bhavagopa in the 7th year of the Satvahan King Gautamiputra Yajnashri Satkarni (CIRCA 166-198 A.D.)

Special Cover (MH/7/2016) on Pandav Leni was released at the inaugural function of Mahapex-2016 on 16th January 2016.

B) Special Cover on Late Smt. Kusumben Mehta – 16th January 2016.

Fortnightly meeting of Philatelic Society of India was organized at the venue in the afternoon. During the meeting a Special Cover on senior philatelist Late Smt. Kusumben Mehta was released. Late Kusumben Mehta was leading philatelist from India and wife of Senior Philatelist Shri Dhirubhai Mehta. She passed away on 6th October 2015 at Mumbai. Smt. Kusumben Mehta was a keen Philatelist and she was a life member of PCI, PSI and so many other Philatelic & Social organisations.

Mahapex-2016, Maharashtra State Level Philatelic Exhibition - 16th to 18th January 2016.

Mahapex-2016, 12th Maharashtra State Level Philatelic Exhibition inaugurated at Postal Stores Depot, Upnagar, Nasik City - 422 006 on 16th January 2016. Shri Ashok Murtadak, Mayor of Nashik City, Smt. Devyani Farande MLA of Nashik Central, Shri A. K. Dash. Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle, Shri Dhirubhai Mehta senior philatelist and President of Philatelic Society of India, Shri Pranav Kumar, Postmaster General, Aurangabad Region and Shri Sankha Samanta freelance artist and well known stamps designer graced the dais at inaugural function. Stamp design competition and elocution competition were organized for the school children on the subject of stamp collecting.