Amid Navratri, devotees offer fritters to deity, write letters to get wishes fulfilled
Bilaspur: At the Shri Mai Dhoomavati Peeth in Chingrajpara, Bilaspur, the goddess deity from Datia resides. Devotees come here to please the goddess in a unique way by offering onion and chili fritters as prasad. Yes, here, the offerings to the goddess consist of onion bhaji and chili bhaji. To fulfill their wishes, devotees submit their requests in writing, and the goddess graciously fulfills their desires as mentioned in the letters.
The temple priest states that the worship of Goddess Dhoomavati is renowned throughout India. It is believed that any devotee who approaches the goddess with a sincere heart will have their troubles alleviated within three days. Historical evidence of this can be traced back to the India-China war. During the conflict, Mahaguru invoked Goddess Dhoomavati and performed rituals, leading to China's defeat within three days.
In fact, the temple of the powerful Goddess Dhoomavati is located in Chingrajpara, near the Arpa River in Bilaspur. During Navratri, devotees worship the goddess in her Dhoomavati form. Although nine forms of the goddess are worshipped during these nine days, devotees can seek her blessings throughout the year. This particular goddess in Bilaspur is uniquely known as the "letter goddess."
The temple in Chingrajpara not only features Goddess Dhoomavati but also houses several other deities, including Lord Shiva. Throughout the year, devotees come to fulfill their wishes. This temple is tied to a rich history, as the establishment of Mai Dhoomavati in Datia was ordered by Mahaguru in 1962 for the nation's defense during the catastrophic India-China war. Subsequently, the Peeth of Mai Dhoomavati was established in Bilaspur in 2005.
It is believed that any devotee who sincerely writes a letter, offering onion and chili bhaji as prasad, along with their wishes, will have their desires fulfilled by the goddess. Unlike other temples, the goddess is offered unique types of prasad, including chili bhaji, onion bhaji, dahi vada, jalebi, puri, and halwa. It is said that these offerings please her. According to the temple priest, Devanand Guru, the goddess favors dishes made from onion, garlic, and ginger, which is why these offerings are made.
Devotees write their wishes on a letter after offering prasad, which is then read by the priest or a helper, who conveys it to the goddess, resulting in the fulfillment of the wishes. Later, all the letters are immersed in the Narmada River at Amarkantak. The temple attracts devotees not only from the city but also from surrounding villages, who come to seek blessings from the goddess to fulfill their desires. Many devotees who visit the temple on Saturdays have shared that they were drawn here after hearing about the goddess's miracles and have experienced the fulfillment of their wishes after offering bhaji. Since then, they have made it a point to visit and offer bhaji every Saturday during Navratri.