India is a mystical land filled with ancient history. The holy places of worship in India are visited by thousands of devotees daily for their cultural and historic significance. From solar-powered temples to idols wearing masks, there are a number of unique and sacred places in this religious country.
Recently, preparations to install an idol of a goddess made of 2,100 kg of clarified butter have begun in a temple in Kangra town of Himachal Pradesh, reports NDTV. The idol of Goddess Bajreshwari Devi is being prepared by temple priests using “desi ghee” after purifying it with holy water for 101 times.
One of the busiest shrines in North India, the temple is visited by a large number of pilgrims from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. The temple will be open to the public soon. Eventually, the idol will be removed from the “pindi” or iconography of the goddess and the ‘prasad’ will be distributed amongst the worshippers, reports Hindustan Times.
It is believed the holy butter cures chronic skin ailments and joint pain. According to a legend, when the goddess was injured during a fight with demons, her wounds were treated with butter by the Gods. The incident apparently occurred on Makar Sankranti, a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of the nation.
Due to this age-old belief, the preparations for installing the ‘ghee idol’ begin on Makar Sankranti each year. The week-long festival is celebrated with exuberance by devotees. We’re glad that the ‘ghee’ is used to feed people.