Devotees throng the Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula on Thursday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal
Hina Rohtaki
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, March 26
The donations at the Mansa Devi temple have already touched a whopping Rs 1.05 crore till the sixth day of the Navratra fest even as ashtami and navami, the two main days for paying obeisance, are still left.
Interestingly, the foreign currency offered to the goddess has nearly doubled as compared to last year.
By the sixth navratra in April 2014, the donations were around Rs 80.64 lakh while in April 2013, the donations received till the sixth navratra were around Rs 70 lakh. The temple remains open till midnight.
Accounts officer Rakesh Pahuja said the cash donations in the next two days were likely be equivalent to those of the previous days put together. “People from far-off places are coming in tractor-trailers to pay obeisance at the temple. Ashtami and navami are considered to be the most auspicious days, and witness a huge rush of devotees,” said the official.
After the Navratra fest concluded last year, US $155 were offered by the devotees, while this year by the sixth Navratra itself, around $351 have been offered. Last year, 140 Canadian dollars were donated were donated while this time, 230 Canadian dollars have been offered so far. Simlarly, last year, 135 Australian dollars were offered while this year 185 Australian dollars have already been offered. As many as 796 silver items weighing 6,253.601 gm and 45 gold items have been donated so far this year.
Several devotees have also donated electrical items. Over 20 ceiling fans, 100 locks and LED clocks have also been received.