Devotees throng Maa Vaishno Devi temple

Rourkela: Like every year, thousands of visitors are thronging Maa Vaishno Devi temple at Rourkela on the occasion of Navaratri.

Devotees of the city are on fast for nine days with the belief that Navaratri comes before Dussehra to fulfill wishes and bring happiness for everyone. Susanta Behera, a devotee of Basanti Colony said, “I fast on Navaratri for my daughter and come to Maa Vaishno Devi temple for Puja both in the Morning and Evening”.

Ashok Shukla, head priest of the temple, informed that the temple, which was constructed in 2003, houses idols of presiding deities namely Goddesses Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati.  “Mata Mahakali rules the unknown realms of life where Maa Kali enables devotees to conquer the forces of darkness. Mata Mahalakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity while Mata Maha Saraswati is the source of all Creation, Knowledge and Wisdom,” Shukla said.

The Maa Durga Temple is another major attraction of the Vaishno Devi temple with an attractive statue of the goddess of destruction near the cave.

Devotees have to climb 796 steps to reach the Vaishno Devi temple situated atop the Durgapur hill for darshan. The Maa Vaishno Devi Temple Trust, formed in 2000, has made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of the devotees, including proper concrete steps and provision of drinking water all the way on the climb up the hill, a Trust spokesperson said.

Shukla informed that twice a year, thousands of devotees visit the temple: in October on the occasion of Navratra and on February 6, a day observed as ‘The Avirvav Day’. Another temple named Badrinath Temple is located near Maa Vaishno Devi temple.  The main prasad or bhog at the temple is ‘Chana Halwa’. Morning Puja or snana Puja begins at 5.15 am followed by morning arati at 7 am and evening arati at 6.30 pm. Construction of an Ardhkuanri idol and a Sani temple is in progress. Vir Bajrangbali Bhairavnath temple is at the right side of Maa ki darbar.

Maa Vaishno Devi temple is visible from the Rourkela railway station and is located about 3 kilometres from the city center, adjacent to Indira Gandhi Park. It is a replica of the original Vaishno Devi temple near Katra in Jammu. The temple is located amid a scenic surrounding and a nearby cave attracts several tourists every year to this place. From here, one can have a picturesque view of the Rourkela town.