LUCKNOW : The fierce goddess, Kali, the slayer of demon king raktabeej, fails to scare children at
Matri Kripa Kalibari in the city. Small boys and girls wait anxiously for the ritualistic puja of the devi to get over even as elders find it difficult to stare in the eyes of the Mundamalini. To the kids, Matri Kripa
Kali is the only deity whose prasad could be their favourite cola, chocolate, coffee, chips, biscuits, wafers or jelly.
“This temple allows us to offer anything to the deity on the occasion of Annakoot Puja held a day after Diwali, not just the typical sweets or laddoos,” said Tarun Bhattacharya, of the temple management committee.
The practice at the Kalibari in Model House is loved by children. “Ama ke chocolate prasad dou (give me chocolate prasad),” said 6-year-old Sumita. Any child is bound to be asking for a prasad of his choice for the temple is elaborately decorated with garlands of toffees, biscuits weaved among toffees, fruits and other things.
Confectionary and other stuff is included in the deity’s Prasad because this temple offers 151 items to the deity on Annakoot puja. “In all, 151 items including foodgrains, fruits and vegetables are offered to the goddess with the hope that all her devotees get the same standard of life in this world,” he added. The custom is said to be unique to this Kalibari in the city. Only 51 types of food are offered to the deity at most Kalibari temples.
Devotees visiting this temple believe that Kalika at Matri Kripa Dhaam is agile all the time. They attibute the strength to a ritual called Varshik Snaan Kriya in which the deity's idol is sanctimoniously cleansed on an annual basis. Amidst vedic chanting, 51 types of items (like curd, honey, amla powder, sea water, turmeric water and so on) considered pious are poured on her to rejuvenate her spiritual powers.
“Normally, such a ritual is undertaken at the time of praan pratishtha. But several centres make it an annual ritual to rejuvenate the deity's powers,” said Hiralal Chatterjee, another priest with the temple. He added that besides the Tatanagar Beldi Kalibari Temple, no other Kali temple follows this ritual. “The ‘devi’ is pure and alive unlike at other places,” he claimed.