PEOPLE THRONGED TEMPLES ON MAHANAVAMI

Ara (RNI) In a narrow lane near Aranaya Devi is the two storey house where people queued up from 3.30.am on the ninth day of Sharadiya Navaratra on Monday to have a glimpse of Maa Aranaya Devi. 

The Aranya Devi temple is situated between the Old and New Ara and is considered to be one of the “Siddh Peeth” in the country. People from all parts of India and also from abroad come here every year to offer prayer. It is said that Lord Ram en-route to Mithila from Buxar along with his brother Laxman and Guru Vishwamitra had passed through Ara and had offered prayer. Even Yudhishthir along with Bheem, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev and their wife Draupadi, had worshiped in the temple during their wandering.

The temple has two main idols, smaller one is Maha Saraswati while the longer one is Maha Kali. In the recent past, with the help of the residents of Ara, the temple was renovated and idols of lord Ram, Laxman, Bharat, Shatrughan, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman and ling of lord Shiva were also installed. Akhand Jyoti is illuminated during the nine day Sharadiya Navratra in the temple.

Though people of Ara visit this temple every day but during Sharadiya Navaratra, its importance increased manyfold. Thousands of people thronged the temple from dawn to dusk for prayer and offerings. At the temple, people also perform ‘yagya’. It is said that every desire is fulfilled here and so people prefer the temple.

Hundreds of people also thronged at Sheetala Maata temple at Sheetal Tola for the ‘Maha Arti’ of Maa Sheetala on Sunday and were given offertories and ‘prasad.’ Women folk gathered at the Sheetala Mata temple and sang ‘Devi Geet’ and danced.

Besides, Thousands of devotees thronged the Puja pandals in different parts of Bhojpur district seeking blessings of Goddress Durga on the day of Mahanavami, of Navaratra on Monday. Traditional rituals marked the puja while the roads in Ara town remained swarmed with young and old alike almost throughout the day. The rush only increased after the sundown with people enjoying with family and friends and making the most of the roadside eateries. Women and girls also do not lag behind. With heavy facial make-up and cloths in motley colour and babies in their hands, walked through roads and made beeline at almost every Puja Pandal especially where Idols of Durga are installed with light and sound effect, to have glimpse and Prasad. The entire town wore a festive look and as the Sun sets, roads filled with sea of humanity and not to speak of vehicles, even pedestrians find hard to move freely on roads.

From morning, hawans were performed to mark the end of nine day Shardiya Navratra on Monday. The air and atmosphere are filled with fragrance of smoke mixed with scents and soothed the mind of devotees.

The roadside eateries did a rousing business. One Ram Prasad, who set up an eatery on roadside said that all the owners of roadside eateries are dong rousing business this year. He said that all of them borrowed money from rich people on interest with promise to return the money after the festival with interest. He said though they had a great loss last year due to inclement weather as devotees dared not to come on the roads due to rains but this year they earned a lot.

On the other hand, Bhojopur district administration made elaborate security arrangement for peaceful Dussehara. Magistrates and police personnel including lady constables were deputed at all the vulnerable and sensitive points and also near all the temples to maintain law and order. As the district administration banned playing of Disc Jockey at high pitch, the recalcitrant Puja committees violated the direction right under the nose of the magistrates and police officials and played DJ at high pitch distrusting the peace of the areas. The ailing people are the most sufferers.