The Mother of bells!

A FEW kilometres away on the Sultanpur Road?a little beyond Cantonment, there is a small temple that one could easily bypass if it were not for about 25,000 bells that embellish it.

A FEW kilometres away on the Sultanpur Road—a little beyond Cantonment, there is a small temple that one could easily bypass if it were not for about 25,000 bells that embellish it.

HT Image

Each and every inch of the 4-foot-by-3 foot temple is adorned by bells of all sizes, shapes and weights. All of them lend a mystic look to the temple.

Folk legends suggest that it is Mari Maata’s temple. If a person makes a wish here then it is fulfilled. Once the wish is fulfilled, the person is expected to come and tie a bell or bells at the temple.

Rukmini (85), a resident of a nearby village, said, “I am seeing this temple for the last 70 years. The bells have been increasing day by day. People come and make a wish at this temple and promise to tie a certain number of bells or bells of certain weight if their wish is fulfilled by Maata. Visitors and believers on making a wish promise to tie a bell weighing 11 kg, 21 kg or even 51 kg or tie 11 bells, 21 bells, 51 bells or 101 bells.” Devotess also offer bells made of gold or silver to please the Goddess.

Similarly, Chatto Mal of Purva village was a rich man till 10 years ago. But, soon he went bankrupt. Soon he and his wife started worshipping at the temple regularly and they started regaining their position.

During Navratra, devotees perform havan at the tiny temple and bring several pujas take place here. Monday and Friday are the main days when the people flock to the temple for ceremonies.