All roads lead to temples for chopdi pujan
Wearing traditional attire, businessmen throng Mumbadevi, Kalbadevi temples to seek blessings on the occasion of Diwali
Donning traditional attire, Mumbaikars thronged prominent temples in the city to offer prayers on the occasion of Diwali on Wednesday.
Mumbadevi temple, to which the credit goes to give the city its name, saw large number of businessmen queuing up with their books to offer prayers and seek blessings. Likewise, thousands queued outside the Kalbadevi temple.
Wearing traditional Marwari or Sethia caps, businessmen carried different types of khate bahi (accounts related books) draped in red cloth. "The idea is to ask devi to bless me for good business," said Keshav Purohit, a 38-year-old cloth dealer.
"Accounts books are made in larger numbers, particularly for these days. Despite computers going to office, the tradition of book puja continues. These include rojemal book (cash collection), hundia books (cheque and draft entry book), OD book and accounts ledger," said Yashawant Kagzi, partner at Phoolchand and Sethia Company.
To ensure that the Goddess is impressed, people moved out naked feet even to buy books before going to the temple. "The idea is that you show respect," said Hasmukh Jain, a 42-year-old cloth dealer.
To accommodate as many and early enthusiast, temples opened earlier than their usual timings. "We opened at 5.30am as devotees come from far away places,"said Hemant Jadhav, manager, Mumbadevi temple. Kalbadevi temple, too, opened at 6.30am. Mahalakshmi temple, which opened at 4am witnessed over 1 lakh people. "We do not conduct any special pujas. Only the rounie ones are conducted slightly early for the three days. We even shut down late as people come from distance," said SV Padhye, manager of Mahalakshmi temple.
Ramvir Singh, a resident of Navi Mumbai, stated that he tries to make it a point to come every year. "Last Diwali, I was in terrible problem. I had taken VRS and was hunting for a job. I came here and then I managed to get one. So me and my wife make it a point to come here every year," said 48-year-old Singh.
Some like Jitendra Singh, a resident of Panvel, made it a point of going to more than one temple. "Today is a holiday so I try to go to as many places. I have already been to Mumbadevi, and after this I would go to Siddhivinayak," said Singh.
While flow at the temples went on through out the day, citizens ensured that they organised pooja at home too. "We had bought silver and gold coins that we will be using for the pooja. Delicacies like faral, ladu, karanji are prepared for our guests," said Bhachandra Kunte, a resident of Byculla. Others like Dhirubhai Dabhi, a resident of Ghatkopar, said: "We will be going to a friend's place. After that we will have puja at home."
Wearing traditional attire, businessmen throng Mumbadevi, Kalbadevi temples to seek blessings on the occasion of Diwali
Donning traditional attire, Mumbaikars thronged prominent temples in the city to offer prayers on the occasion of Diwali on Wednesday.
Mumbadevi temple, to which the credit goes to give the city its name, saw large number of businessmen queuing up with their books to offer prayers and seek blessings. Likewise, thousands queued outside the Kalbadevi temple.
Wearing traditional Marwari or Sethia caps, businessmen carried different types of khate bahi (accounts related books) draped in red cloth. "The idea is to ask devi to bless me for good business," said Keshav Purohit, a 38-year-old cloth dealer.
"Accounts books are made in larger numbers, particularly for these days. Despite computers going to office, the tradition of book puja continues. These include rojemal book (cash collection), hundia books (cheque and draft entry book), OD book and accounts ledger," said Yashawant Kagzi, partner at Phoolchand and Sethia Company.
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To accommodate as many and early enthusiast, temples opened earlier than their usual timings. "We opened at 5.30am as devotees come from far away places,"said Hemant Jadhav, manager, Mumbadevi temple. Kalbadevi temple, too, opened at 6.30am. Mahalakshmi temple, which opened at 4am witnessed over 1 lakh people. "We do not conduct any special pujas. Only the rounie ones are conducted slightly early for the three days. We even shut down late as people come from distance," said SV Padhye, manager of Mahalakshmi temple.
Ramvir Singh, a resident of Navi Mumbai, stated that he tries to make it a point to come every year. "Last Diwali, I was in terrible problem. I had taken VRS and was hunting for a job. I came here and then I managed to get one. So me and my wife make it a point to come here every year," said 48-year-old Singh.
Some like Jitendra Singh, a resident of Panvel, made it a point of going to more than one temple. "Today is a holiday so I try to go to as many places. I have already been to Mumbadevi, and after this I would go to Siddhivinayak," said Singh.
While flow at the temples went on through out the day, citizens ensured that they organised pooja at home too. "We had bought silver and gold coins that we will be using for the pooja. Delicacies like faral, ladu, karanji are prepared for our guests," said Bhachandra Kunte, a resident of Byculla. Others like Dhirubhai Dabhi, a resident of Ghatkopar, said: "We will be going to a friend's place. After that we will have puja at home."
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