Five-day Mata Mahakali festival in Chandrapur ends with city procession of palanquin

The Shri Mata Mahakali Festival in Chandrapur concluded on Monday with a grand city circumambulation palanquin procession. The festival, held on the initiative of MLA Kishor Jorgewar, had been running for five days. On the last day, cries of "Jai Mata Mahakali, Jai Mahakali!" echoed through the city.

The palanquin left the Shri Mata Mahakali temple at 6 pm on Monday. It went around Jatpura Gate via Girnar Chowk, Gandhi Chowk and Jayant Talkies Chowk, and returned to the temple by Kasturba Marg. Large crowds of devotees gathered at many points along the route for darshan. The palanquin moved ahead amid the sound of kartal, mridang, dhol and tasha. Thousands of devotees were eager for darshan of the Goddess.

The procession included the goddess's festival idol, a decorated chariot, Ganga aarti, a Potraj dance group, a jhanj-damru troupe, and Shiva tandav and Aghori dances. A tableau of Pawansut Bahubali Hanuman, the cheers of the Warkaris, and a form of Navadurga on horseback also drew attention. Children presented displays of lathi-danda, dandpatta and swordsmanship.

There were also tableaux on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a tableau of Chandrapur's temples, a presentation on Tantya Bhil, and conch blowing by women of the Bengali community. It showed a rare meeting of history and spirituality. Various social organisations arranged drinking water and soft drinks for devotees.

Dignitaries from the political, social and administrative fields attended the festival, including former Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir, MP Pratibha Dhanorkar, MLA Vijay Wadettiwar and District and Sessions Judge P. M. Gupta. They offered prayers to the Goddess. At the end of the event, the various mandals, communities and organisations that took part were honoured with certificates by MLA Kishor Jorgewar.

Speaking on the occasion, Jorgewar said, "We hold this festival every year so that the glory of Chandrapur's Mata Mahakali reaches across the country. The growing public participation every year adds to our energy. This time, keeping in mind drought-like conditions in the state, we have cancelled all entertainment programmes. Through the festival committee, financial assistance will be given to our farmer brothers struggling with drought by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis."

Jorgewar prayed at the feet of Goddess Mahakali for the happiness and prosperity of all and the well-being of farmer brothers, and thanked all citizens.