Navratra weekend draws more visitors to temples and Devi pandals

Mumbai: The start of the Navratra weekend saw vast numbers of devotees visiting temples dedicated to the Mother Goddess in Bhuleshwar, Borivli and Dahisar among other localities. Makeshift Devi pandals in Kurla, Tardeo, Lalbaug and Kamathipura have been displaying their idols in beautiful new saris every day to welcome pandal hoppers. Garba organisers too fortified arrangements foreseeing higher footfall over Saturday-Sunday.In Dahisar, male devotees of the GSB Sabha Dahisar Borivli have been toiling each night to transform the Durga idol into a new swaroop (form) by the following morning. Spokesperson Jayesh Prabhu said, "We do have women to help with floral garlands and saris, but they are not allowed on stage (where the idol is placed). We change the backdrop, the setting and decor in keeping with the particular Devi we are showcasing. For instance, while displaying Goddess Annapoorna on Friday, we had draped 250 kg of vegetables and fruits. This will be used in our annadaan seva where around 50,000 people are fed." On Sunday GSB will display Mahalakshmi avatar.Prabhu said, "Our USP is that our Navratri is everything except dandia. The festival has become synonymous with dandia -- but we have all the religious, ethnic and cultural rituals and practices except dandia. Secondly, we focus on giving back to society by organising a medical camp, which is scheduled Sunday Oct 6 this year, as well as an educational initiative where we distribute schoolbags to 800 underprivileged students."The idol of GSB Sabha is adorned with several kilos of gold and silver jewellery, prompting the mandal to procure insurance worth Rs 48 crore this year.On the other flank of the city in Nagpada, the charming 11 ft idol of Mumbaichi Jagdamba of 2nd Kamathipura (Madhya) Sarvajanik Navratra Utsav mandal is drawing hundreds of pandal hoppers since the festival began. Mandal president Shashank Bhushan said, "We have crafted the Mansa Devi swaroop this year. Mansa Devi is a goddess who is worshipped for many reasons including protection from snakebite, blessings of fertility and prosperity, and fulfilment of wishes (‘Mansa' means wish). The shrine is also a Siddh peeth."Secretary Deepak Shahu said, "The mandap theme is maintaining peace and unity guided by the ideals of freedom fighters like Lokmanya Tilak and Swatantryaveer Savarkar, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj." The Kamathipura mandal has been organising Navratra since 1961.MSID:: 113970589 413 |
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