Over 20 lakh devotees visit Ratangarh Mata temple in two days of Diwali Dauj fair

The Diwali Dauj fair at the Ratangarh Mata temple continued for a second day on Wednesday. Devotees had begun arriving in large numbers on Tuesday as soon as the Dauj tithi began, and crowds stayed in the temple complex from Wednesday morning as well.

According to the administration, more than 4 lakh devotees had had darshan of the Mata by 12 noon on Wednesday. By Tuesday evening, 16 lakh devotees were claimed to have had darshan and about 10,000 snakebite victims to have had their "bandh" cut. Taken together, the number of people who had darshan in two days crossed 20 lakh, while those who had the bandh cut rose above 11,000. The administration estimates that the number of devotees could cross 30 lakh by Wednesday evening.

This time, according to the panchang, the Dauj tithi began at around 2 pm on Tuesday. The administration made continuous announcements in the temple and parking areas, appealing to devotees to come during the Dauj tithi. Even so, people began reaching Ratangarh from Monday evening. The bandh-cutting ritual thus began about 14 hours before the tithi started.

After bathing in the Sindh river, many devotees began to experience "mair", or unconsciousness. Family members brought such people to the Kunwar Baba temple, where the tradition of cutting the bandh was observed by sprinkling water and waving a neem twig over them. Some reached the Kunwar Baba shrine lying on a stretcher, others on the shoulders of relatives.

The stretch of about 400 metres from the Mata temple to the Kunwar Baba temple remained immersed in faith and folk traditions for three days. Devotees were seen performing the parikrama on foot. Many sang and danced to Languriya songs, and different groups performed the Moniya dance. The whole complex echoed with the beat of the dholak, the sound of ankle bells and cries of praise for the Mata. Performers and devotees dancing with peacock feathers in their hands remained a centre of attraction.