Padmavati temple in Pune: Coconut, green sari are deity’s favourites, say devotees here

Known as ‘Akhiyikai’, the goddess was found while ploughing the field and appeared at the touch of the bull’s foot, which is why she was known as ‘Padmavati’

Padmavati temple is situated around three kilometres from Swargate.

Pune's one of the oldest Goddess Padmavati Temple in Pune. (RAVINDRA JOSHI/HT PHOTO)

The temple has a lovely feel to it due its location in the outskirts of the city, despite being part of the bustling Padmavati area in Bibwewadi.

The goddess is a ‘Swayambhu’ idol and has her soldiers standing guard, carved in stone.

This temple is looked after by the Bibve family who used to be rice sellers from the Konkan region.

Known as ‘Akhiyikai’, the goddess was found while ploughing the field and appeared at the touch of the bull’s foot, which is why she was known as ‘Padmavati’.

Earlier, the goddess was a small round stone idol, but day-by-day the round has increased with the application of ‘sendhur’ (orange colour).

The Padmavati temple also has a small temple of Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva within the temple premises.

Previously, there was no potable water for the many worshippers, so a well was dug and later the temple was renovated magnificently.

Sundays see a lot of devotees making a beeline from across Mumbai and Pune who believe that this goddess fulfils all wishes and they return to pay obeisance by bringing her coconut and green saree.