Siddhidatri Durga temple, Chakulia (Bokaro)

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Durga Puja for girl child

Divy Khare, October 24, 2020: The Times of India

Where couples pray to Maa for a beti

Bokaro:

Balram Rajwar was among the first to reach the temple of Siddhidatri Durga on Thursday. As Durga Puja began across the country, Rajwar was there early with a special prayer — a girl child for his sister-in-law, reports Divy Khare. He was soon joined by dozens of couples at the 170-year-old temple in Chakulia village of Jharkhand’s Bokaro district.

Village elders said couples flock here, especially during Durga Puja, with the belief that praying at this temple would get them a daughter. “Rajwar lives in nearby Ramdih. He told me his sisterin-law’s family has three boys and they wanted a girl. I asked him to come again on Mahanabami on Sunday,” said Manohar Dubey, the head priest.

Like every year, puja began with ‘ghat sthapana’, a ritual in which prayers are offered to a 150-year-old copper pot kept in the temple. “Even though devotees visit through the year, footfall surges at this time as hundreds offer prayers to a grand statue of Siddhidatri Durga, seeking a daughter,” locals said.

According to folklore, a villager — Kalicharan Dubey — first prayed here for a daughter about 150 years ago and it is said that his wish was “fulfilled”. As word spread, couples seeking a girl child started visiting the temple.