DEVITEES FLOCK TO THE MAA PITAN DEVI TEMPLE

DEVITEES FLOCK TO THE MAA PITAN DEVI TEMPLE

30-SEP-ENG 17

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The Maa Pitan Devi Maharani Temple in Piro is renowned for fulfilling desires. The temple's Aarti and Bhajan Sandhya programs during Sharadiya Navratri are a sight to behold. The throngs of hundreds of devotees attending the captivating Bhajan Sandhya and Aarti programs during Sharadiya Navratri add to the temple's fame. Mantu Baba, the temple's chief priest, and Deepak Kumar Arya, the temple committee president, explain that a clay idol was installed at this site in 1935. As people began to receive their wishes, Pitan Devi Maharani's fame grew. In 1970, a permanent temple was built and the idol was installed. In 2005, a grand yagna was performed, and a new idol was installed. The temple is all decked out for Navratri, which began on September 22nd. Crowds of devotees are flocking to the temple to fulfill their wishes. The ritual of bhajans and aarti has begun. Given the large crowds that gather, the police force has to monitor the gatherings. The Maa Pitan Devi Committee is considered the standard for all Durga idols installed during the Sharadiya Navratri at the Piro subdivision headquarters. The decisions taken by the Pitan Devi Temple Committee are the final decision regarding worship and immersion.

During the Sharadiya Navratri, a large crowd of devotees and pilgrims is gathering for the evening Maha Aarti at the Maa Pitan Devi temple, the presiding deity of Piro town. The number of women attending the Maha Aarti is significantly higher than that of men. The scene during the Maha Aarti is a sight to behold. To witness the Maha Aarti, drivers passing by on the state highway stop their vehicles near the temple until it ends. According to the temple's chief priest, Mantu Baba, and temple committee president, Deepak Kumar Arya, although the Mata Aarti is performed regularly every evening, hundreds of people from various neighborhoods of the city participate in this Maha Aarti during Sharadiya Navratri. During Navratri, devotees from the city and surrounding villages also arrive in large numbers for the Maha Aarti. Due to the large number of devotees, space in the temple premises becomes limited. Consequently, people stand on the roadside to participate in the event. The enthusiasm of the devotees participating in this event is worth seeing. During the nearly hour-long Maha Aarti, the atmosphere in the temple premises becomes completely devotional. According to the temple's chief priest, Mantu Baba, this event runs from the seventh day to the ninth day of every Sharadiya Navratri.

 There is a tradition of offering Prasad brought from different people's homes each day.

The Maa Pitan Devi Temple, located at the Piro subdivision headquarters, is considered a religious landmark in Piro and the surrounding area. The Pitan Devi Temple in Piro has a set number of devotees allowed to offer prayers every day for 30 consecutive days of each month. For thirty days of each month, the offerings are made from the homes of different individuals. The same 30-day process begins again the following month. This tradition of offering prayers continues throughout the year at this temple.