Politicians also enter the temples to please the Goddess during elections
Lakhs of devotees of Maa Durga are paying their visits to the temples of Maa Bhagwati (Durga) in various parts of the state amidst tight security measures taken by the government to prevent any mischief by the anti social elements during the festivals. Himachal Pradesh is the abode of Maa Bhagwati and its temples are located at Jawalaji, Chintpurni, Chamunda, Nainadevi and other interiors areas of the district.
Maa Bhagwati and Lord Shiva are mainly worshipped in the area and every village has its own small or big temples of Maa Bhagwati or Lord Shiva. There are temples of other Gods in the state also and in the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Sirmaur, local devtas and devis also matter a lot.
Though devotees from the state are taking active part in the celebrations of navratras yet the influx of devotees from UP, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan and Delhi has added to the rush of the pilgrims this time. Attired in light yellow dresses, these people worship the Goddess and seek her blessings for them and their families. A large number of devotees from foreign countries are also taking part in the festivals in the temples of Maa Brijeshwari in Kangra, Chamunda and Jawalaji.
Following the bomb blasts in Ajmer and Ludiana recently the metal detectors were for the first time introduced in the temple of Maa Brijeshwari in Kangra by the law enforcing agencies besides posting of armed police personals at the vintage points of the temple.
Keeping in view of the heavy rush of devotees visiting the kangra temple, girl students of the NSS wing of the DAV College Kangra have been performing traffic duty these days to extend a helping hand to the police personals to maintain the traffic in the town.
An official spokesman told this reporter today that despite heavy rush of the pilgrims visiting various temples in the state, the law and order situation is under control and no unwanted incident had so for been reported from any area of the state.
Meanwhile, with the state elections are round the corner, leaders and workers of various political parties are also thronging the temples to pay their obeisance to Maa Durga and to seek her blessings for them and their parties. Many leaders resorted to the havans in the temple to get the tickets and to become MLA’s in the state assembly.
Congress leader and Himachal chief minister, Vir Bhadra Singh took part in a havan and religious programme at the state secretariat which was organized by the secretariat employees. He was accompanied by his wife, Pratibha Singh, MP and others.
Senior BJP leader and former chief minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal today visited the temple of Maa Awahdevi in Hamirpur district today before proceeding for election campaign. Maa Awahdevi is the kuldevi of the people of the upper Bamsan area of the district from where Dhumal belongs.
While talking to this reporter after the visit to temple, Dhumal expressed optimism that the party would win the election with massive majority with the blessings of Maa Bhagwati.
