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Goddess decorated with jewellery, flowers
The second day of Chaitra Navratra was observed on Friday. Maa Brahmacharini swaroop of Goddess Durga was worshipped in various Siddhapeeths of the city including Maa Kalyani Devi, Maa Lalita Devi, Alopshankari Devi and Khema Mai.
"Ya devi sarvabhuteshu, matrirupen sansthita,
namastatsai, namastatsai, namastatsai, namo namah".
The second day of Chaitra Navratra was observed on Friday. Maa Brahmacharini swaroop of Goddess Durga was worshipped in various Siddhapeeths of the city including Maa Kalyani Devi, Maa Lalita Devi, Alopshankari Devi and Khema Mai.
The sringar of Maa Brahmacharini was done with jewelry and flowers at Maa Kalyani Devi. Mangalarti, hawan, shatchandi paath and Sri Durga Saptashati Paath was held on the occasion.
Among the noted 51 siddhapeeths, Alopshankari holds a prominent position. Lakhs of devotees visit the temple every year to worship the invisible goddess which is located three kilometres from the Sangam area. The locality where the temple is situated has been named as Alopibagh.
One of the significant features of the temple is that there is neither the idol of Maa Bhagwati in the main worshipping area, nor there is any symbolic picture of the deity. There is a small platform and a kund is located in the centre which is filled with holy water.
Above the kund is a 'jhula' which is worshipped by the devotees. According to a myth, 51 parts of Maa Parvati's corpse fell at various places when Lord Shiva moved with it in the entire universe. Likewise Siddhapeeth Alopshankari was built at the place where her finger fell during the movement.
Maa Alopshankari is also worshipped as Maa Madheshwari. It is said that puja and other rituals performed here hold special significance.
On the second day of Navratri on Friday, thousands of devotees visited the temple and offered coconut and chunri.
