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Dhamtari, 14 October (Hindustan Reporter). The Kalash procession of Mandar Mai located at Marathapara in Dhamtari city took place as per tradition. Hundreds of people participated in the Jyot-Janwara immersion procession on Sunday evening. Girls were walking with Jyoti Kalash on their heads. Ahead of the procession, more than 10 youths joined the procession dancing and dancing with traditional musical instruments and Bana-Sanga in their mouths and tongues. The youth were walking at the front carrying the Mandar Mai flag. To the tune of traditional musical instruments, the procession reached Shitala Mata Temple from Vindhyavasini Temple. Women kept walking dancing all the way. People offered prayers in the procession and prayed for the well-being of the family.
Mandar Mai's Jyot Janwara Visarjan Yatra was taken out on the second day of Dussehra. The procession that started from Marathapara reached Vindhyavasini temple at nine in the night. From here, immersion of Shitala pond Jyot-Janwara was done near Shitala Mata temple. The procession passed through Marathapara near Bamleshwari Chowk and reached Vindhyavasini Temple from Ganesh Chowk, Rambagh. The women covered the distance of about two kilometers in five hours, carrying plowshares on their heads. Throughout the way, the devotees kept dancing to the beats of Dev Baje with Sanga-Bana. It is known that Jyot Janwara is established in the temple on the day of Panchami. The tradition is being maintained in the temple from generation to generation. Navratri festival starts on the day of Panchami in Mandir Mai Mandir. After worshiping the Goddess for five days, an immersion procession is taken out from the temple on the next day of Ekadashi i.e. Dashami. Jyot Janwara's procession took 5 hours to reach the destination. There was a crowd of thousands of devotees to watch the immersion procession. Devi devotees had arrived in large numbers from the city as well as rural areas. Sadar Bazaar remained jammed for 5 hours. There was tight police arrangement. Pedestrians were requested to change their routes. During the Visarjan Yatra, Aarti was performed at various places of Jhot Janwara and blessings were taken from the Mother Goddess.
Deity idols give darshan only during Navratri
Temple priest Rajkumar Dhruv told that it is the tradition of the temple that the deities here rest in the basket throughout the year. He gives darshan to devotees only during Navratri. This time 151 Jyot Kalash were lit in the temple. The temple is 200 years old. Their tradition is different from other temples. The skeletons established here, Rikchin Mata, Madhya Dev, Langur Dev, Budhi Mai, come out of Jhampi only during Navratri. On the second day of immersion it is installed in the Jhampi (basket). It is a tradition of the temple that Jot Janwara is sown here only on the day of Panchami. After worshiping for five consecutive days, it is immersed on the second day of Dussehra.
Fourth generation serving
Priest Rajkumar Dhruv told that at present the fourth generation is worshiping the deity. The temple is more than 200 years old. Devotees have immense faith in the temple. Devotees from far and wide come here to burn the Jyot Kalash. Devotees who worship with true heart never get disappointed. There are hundreds of examples of this. People of all classes come to the temple to pay obeisance.
