MAGNIFICENT SIGHT AT ARANYA DEVI TEMPLE

MAGNIFICENT SIGHT AT ARANYA DEVI TEMPLE

18-OCT-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The auspicious festival of Sharadiya Navratri is unfolding in all its divinity and grandeur. On Saturday, the seventh day (Saptami Tithi), a remarkable surge of faith was witnessed across the entire country, including in the city of Ara. On this significant day, Maa Kaalratri—the seventh manifestation of the primordial power, Maa Durga—was worshipped with traditional rituals; she is revered as the benevolent deity who destroys all enemies. On this sacred occasion of Saptami, a massive influx of devotees from every corner of Ara arrived, filling the city’s various *puja* *pandals* (temporary shrines) and temples with an atmosphere of deep devotion.

The enthusiasm of the devotees was particularly palpable at the ancient temple of Maa Aranya Devi, the presiding and revered deity of the city. From the early hours of Saturday morning, long queues of both men and women began to form within the temple premises. Thousands of devotees, driven by a profound desire to seek the Goddess’s blessings, arrived at the temple to bow before her and pray for the well-being and prosperity of their families. The entire surroundings resonated with the chants and hymns dedicated to the Mother Goddess.

For this special occasion, the sanctum of Maa Aranya Devi was adorned in an ethereal manner. Skilled artisans, brought in from Kolkata, decorated the temple with exquisite floral arrangements. Amidst the fragrance of fresh flowers and the grand decor, the adornment of the Goddess appeared so captivating that onlookers found themselves gazing in awe, unable to look away.

At 4:30 AM on Saturday—during the *Brahma Bela* (the auspicious early morning hours)—a grand *Mangala Aarti* was performed for Maa Aranya Devi. Hundreds of devotees were present to witness this spiritual moment. The *Mangala Aarti* saw the participation of esteemed office-bearers and active members of the Maa Aranya Devi Temple Development Trust, prominent figures from the Marwari community, and the general public, all of whom took part with deep reverence and devotion. The *aarti* of the Mother, illuminated by the glow of camphor, accompanied by the resonant peal of bells, filled the hearts of all the devotees present with peace and a sense of the divine.

Immediately following the *Mangala Aarti*, *Mahaprasad* was distributed among the devotees. Their enthusiasm soared upon receiving the delicious and sacred *bundiya*—a sweet treat prepared from gram flour (*besan*). Furthermore, on this auspicious occasion, the devotees participated with great zeal in accelerating the temple’s renovation and construction efforts. They contributed generously toward the temple’s construction—a testament to their unwavering faith and deep devotion to the Mother. Through the grace of Ma Kalratri and the blessings of Ma Aranya Devi, the entire city appeared immersed in the worship of the Divine Feminine (*Shakti*).