Shardiya Navratri, a significant Hindu festival, begins on October 15th. During these nine days, devotees perform ritualistic worship and offerings to the various forms of the Goddess.
Families, along with devotees, also visit the power centers of Goddess Durga. It is believed that seeking the blessings of the Goddess during Navratri fulfills desires.
Temples dedicated to the Goddess witness a surge in devotees, enhancing religious tourism.
India boasts 52 Shakti Peethas, revered sites associated with different parts of Goddess Sati’s body. Pilgrims consider visiting these during Navratri highly auspicious.
The Enigmatic Vanadevi Temple: Where Stones Speak Devotion
One remarkable temple during Navratri is the Vanadevi Temple, located in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
Devotees here offer special stone slabs to the Goddess, a tradition upheld for centuries. These stones hold unique importance, distinct from the usual floral offerings and adornments.
The temple has preserved this ritual for over 100 years, attracting pilgrims from all corners of the country.
A Divine Tradition: Offering Stones with Devotion
Devotees believe that the unique stones offered at the Vanadevi Temple fulfill their wishes. These stones are sourced from fields, meticulously chosen, and worshipped during Navratri.
While the temple’s history remains somewhat mysterious, it is considered self-manifested, instilling faith and reverence among the pilgrims.
The Legend of Self-Manifestation
Legend has it that in the dense forests that once covered this area, people used to climb the hills and offer five stones to the Goddess, praying for safe passage and prosperity.
Over time, this tradition became formalized, leading to the construction of the Vanadevi Temple.
The self-manifested idol of the Goddess here carries centuries-old devotion and continues to inspire the faithful, making this temple a unique and sacred site for Navratri celebrations.
