Places of worship shine bright as city gears up to ring in New Year

Patna: As the world prepares to bid farewell to 2024, Patna, the capital of Bihar, is gearing up to welcome 2025 with a festive fervour that is impossible to ignore. The city's iconic temples, gurdwaras and churches are donning vibrant decorations, dazzling lights and fragrant flowers, creating an atmosphere brimming with spirituality and celebration. From the revered Mahavir Mandir to the historic St Mary's Church and the sacred Takhat Shri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib Gurdwara, preparations are in full swing to make New Year's day truly special for the faithful.The famous Mahavir Mandir near Patna Junction is expecting a footfall of around two lakh devotees on Jan 1, as shared by Acharya Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Mahavir Temple Trust. "The gates of the temple will open from 5am and remain so till midnight to allow devotees to begin the New Year with the blessing of Lord Hanuman," Kunal said.To cater to this massive turnout, the temple is preparing 10,000kg of ‘Naivedyam,' the sacred offering. Ten priests will conduct rituals while over 200 private guards and volunteers will manage the crowds and maintain order. "The temple will sparkle with colourful lights and flowers to mark the occasion," added Kunal.At the Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple in Rajbanshi Nagar, the preparations are equally grand. "We are expecting around one lakh devotees on Jan 1," said Rakesh Baba, the temple's main priest. Over 1,000kg of ‘Naivedyam' will be distributed and the temple gates will open at 5am. The morning ‘aarti;' will be conducted by seven priests.The temple administration has requested additional support from the district magistrate, senior superintendent of police and traffic SP to ensure smooth management of the event. "A team of five staff members and a dozen volunteers will be present to assist devotees," Rakesh Baba added.Takhat Shri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib Gurdwara, a cornerstone of Sikh spirituality, is also preparing for a massive influx of visitors. "More than 75,000 people are expected on New Year's Eve and Jan 1," said Jagjot Singh Sodhi, president of the Patna Sahib Gurudwara Management Committee.To welcome the faithful, ‘halwa' will be distributed as special prasad and a langar will serve meals throughout the day. "The langar menu includes a wide variety of dishes — roti, rice, vegetables, jalebi and kheer," Sodhi said, adding that the gurdwara had already seen over 10,000 visitors on Christmas.Father Kuldeep SJ, chief priest of Bankipore Church, said the church expects over 1,000 devotees on New Year's Eve. "A thanksgiving prayer will be offered on Dec 31 evening, followed by a blessing prayer at 7.30am on Jan 1. We keep our celebrations simple yet meaningful," he said.At the Queen of Apostles Church in Kurji, Father Selvin Xavier shared the detailed schedule for New Year's Eve. "Thanksgiving prayers will be held at 7pm and 10pm while ‘Missa' (blessing prayers) will be offered at 7.30pm and 10.30 pm on Dec 31. On Jan 1, two Missa prayers will be conducted at 7am and 8am, but there will be no evening service," he added.As people prepare to step into 2025, the city is all set to blend devotion, community and celebration, offering a warm welcome to the New Year. Whether through the aroma of ‘Naivedyam,' the melody of hymns, or the community spirit of langar, the celebrations promise to be as lively and diverse as the city itself.
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