PEOPLE THRONGED AT ARANYA DEVI TEMPLE

PEOPLE THRONGED AT ARANYA DEVI TEMPLE

13-OCT-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------The third day of Sharadiya Navratri—the grand festival of Shakti and worship—a sea of ​​faith surged at the historic and spiritual center of the city, the Maa Aranya Devi Temple. Devotees worshipped Maa Brahmacharini—the second manifestation of Goddess Durga—with due rituals and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of their families. The temple doors were opened to devotees following the morning *Mangala Aarti*, and the stream of visitors offering prayers continued uninterrupted thereafter.

From early morning, devotees arrived at the Goddess's sanctum to offer coconuts, *chunris* (sacred scarves), vermilion, and sweets. As the day progressed, the queues of devotees waiting for *darshan* grew longer. By 4 PM, the entire temple complex resonated with chants hailing the Mother Goddess and devotional songs. A palpable sense of enthusiasm was observed among the women and young girls. At dusk, a massive crowd gathered to light lamps within the temple premises, a practice that continued ceaselessly until 8 PM. Bathed in the flickering glow of the lamps, the temple complex took on a festive appearance reminiscent of the New Year celebrations.

Trustees and staff of the Maa Aranya Devi Temple Development Trust worked diligently to manage the crowd and ensure smooth arrangements for *darshan*. Krishna Kumar, the Trust's media in-charge, stated that special traffic and entry arrangements have been implemented to handle the heavy influx of devotees during Navratri.

He shared a specific update noting that, starting from *Saptami* (the seventh day) through *Dashami* (the tenth day), all devotees visiting for *darshan* will enter the temple via the route known as 'Bhairav ​​Baba Gali'. Meanwhile, to ensure the smooth movement of crowds and maintain safety, the main entrance of the temple will serve solely as an exit gate. The Trust has requested all devotees to maintain discipline and adhere to the administration's guidelines during *darshan*, ensuring that every pilgrim can experience a seamless and divine glimpse of the Goddess.

The *Saptami* Tithi holds special significance at the shrine of Aranya Devi, the presiding deity of Ara. The media in-charge stated that on this day, the Goddess will be adorned in a magnificent and ethereal manner, offering devotees a unique opportunity to behold Her. Ancient belief holds that merely catching a glimpse of the Goddess on this day fulfills all the wishes of the devotees.