Devotees throng temples in Patna, miss pandal hopping on Mahasaptami

PATNA: Devotees thronged several temples across the city on Friday to offer prayers where small idols of Goddess Durga were unveiled on the Mahasaptami day.
However, Bangali Akhara, Patna Kalibari, Ramkrishna Mission Ashrama, and others performed the ‘Aahwahan Puja’ on Thursday itself. The management committees at these places have taken all safety measures issued under the Covid-19 guidelines.The Patna Kalibari at Gardanibagh has deployed volunteers at the entry point to ensure that no devotees enter the temple premises sans face mask and they are also given hand sanitisers.
The Maa Kalratri form of the Goddess was worshiped on Friday as part of prayers and rituals. Priest Yogendra Nath Chaturvedi, however, said that this time, there is some ambiguity regarding the dates of Mahaashtami, Mahanavami, and Vijayadashmi.
“Ashtami Tithi started on Friday late noon and will conclude at 11.58 am on Saturday. Accordingly, many devotees kept Mahashtami fast on Friday, while many others will observe it on Saturday. Mahagauri is worshiped on Mahaastmi day,” he said.
After Mahaashtmi, Maa Siddhidatri avatar of Goddess Durga will be worshipped on the occasion of Navami. ‘Kanya pujan’ is also performed on the occasion of Navami, which is followed by Vijyadashmi celebrations on the tenth day of the festival.
Owing to Covid-19 pandemic, only small idols have been placed in temples, this year. Also, a very limited number of devotees are allowed to enter the temple. According to Patna district administration sources, all sub-divisional officers (SDO), sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs) and station house officers (SHOs) have been asked to set up peace committees. The members of the committees will be told about the Covid safety guidelines issued by the central and state governments.
Meanwhile, devotees were busy performing the rituals at home or temples, though majority of them missed the pandal- hopping. “I went to visit the arrangement done at Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir, Boring Canal road, where a picture of Goddess Durga has been put up instead of an idol. This is an appreciable step amid this situation and there will be no idol immersion. We were asked to enter by maintaining required physical distance,” a Boring road resident Janak Kishori said.
(With inputs from Neha Nimisha)