Stories
Goddess Durga Arrives on Elephant for Shardiya Navratri; Significance of Alop Shankari Temple
- •Shardiya Navratri begins on October 11 with auspicious planetary alignments, and Goddess Durga's arrival on an elephant signifies good rainfall and prosperity.
- •Located in Prayagraj, Shri Maa Alop Shankari Devi Shaktipeeth is one of the 52 Shaktipeeths where the fingers of Goddess Sati's right hand fell.
- •The sanctum sanctorum of the temple features a cradle and a Sri Yantra instead of a traditional idol, where the Goddess is worshipped in the form of a cradle.
- •Newly married couples and devotees seeking children visit the temple to touch the cradle and receive divine blessings.
- •Extensive arrangements, including CCTV surveillance and heavy police deployment, have been made at the temple to manage the large crowds during Navratri.
Key Questions Answered
Shardiya Navratri begins on Sunday, October 11, with Goddess Durga arriving mounted on an elephant. According to scriptures and astrological experts, this vehicle is considered highly auspicious, serving as a positive sign of good rainfall, prosperity, abundant happiness, and overall economic progress.
Located about 3 kilometers from the Triveni Sangam, Shri Maa Alop Shankari Devi Shaktipeeth is one of the 52 Shaktipeeths managed by Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani. Believed to be the site where the fingers of Goddess Sati's right hand fell, the temple features a sacred dais housing the Sri Yantra and a cradle where the Goddess is worshipped.
Devotees visit the temple to offer coconuts, chunri, and 'Kadhai' prasad, while receiving holy pond water from the priests. Many worshippers voluntarily perform sit-ups holding their ears as a form of penance for past mistakes, and newly married couples or those seeking children come to touch the sacred cradle for blessings.
