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March 27, 2010 | Ghost fair in Jharkhand witnesses a sea of humanity |
Palamu (Jharkhand): Though people all over the world visit religious places to seek blessings for happiness and a good fortune for themselves, an annual fair held in Jharkhand's Palamu district attracts people who wish to free themselves
of the suspected evil spirits' influence. Hundreds of devotees of tribal and non-tribal
families participated in a unique the 'Ghost fair' hosted in the vicinity of Sheetala
Mata temple here recently. The large presence of believers during the annual fair
felt like a literal sea of humanity near the temple located in the Haider Nagar.
It is held during the nine days of Navratri festival here. Devotees camped in
tents in front of the temple and persons 'possessed' by ghosts were escorted to
the temple where the priests and Tantriks (sorcerers) would perform various rituals
and offer prayers before the Goddess. During these rituals, the persons who are
in trance, are believed to have been influenced by the divine power of the presiding
deity. People at the fair said that they arrived here after being unsatisfied
by doctors for their respective medical problems. "This is an age-old mystic temple.
People have been visiting this temple for 50 to 60 years. They come here to fulfill
their wishes, get rid of the evil spirits or any problem they are facing. The
presiding deity of temple goddess relieves them of all the problems," said Surendra
Nath Tyagi, priest of Sheetala Mata temple, Hairderpur. It is believed besides
obviation from evil spirits, the devout visitors also have a belief that their
all wishes will be realized after praying here by a pure heart and deep faith.
"After noticing such a sea of devotees at this temple, one can make out that there
has to be some reality in this ritual, otherwise people would not visit this temple.
I feel that this temple has some powers, that is why people come here to get rid
of their problems," said Meera Devi, one of the devotee. This fair has been a
popular event for several decades. |
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