The goddess who gave Mumbai its name has been residing at her Zaveri Bazaar temple for more than 200 years. And though the temple is steeped in history and folklore, Shubhangi Khapre discovers that Mumba Devi has adapted to the changing times, as North Indians flock to her for protection. Her door is open to everyone in need
Draped in a bright silk sari, she sits atop her heavily bejewelled throne. Sporting a typical Maharashtrian nose ring studded with precious stones and pearls, she welcomes all who throng her darbar with a warm smile.
She’s Mumbai’s god of all things big and small. The goddess who gave Mumbai its name, Mumba Devi, has been residing at her Zaveri Bazaar temple for more than 200 years.
The peaceful ambience inside the temple is a stark contrast to the heat generated by a section of Mumbaikars attempting to stir up an anti-North Indian movement and indulge in name-change politics which is threatening to engulf Mumbai’s cosmopolitan status.
Two priests are busy attending to thousands of devotees who have travelled the length and breadth of the city to seek her blessings. There’s a serpentine queue stretching almost a kilometre, comprising worshippers from the four corners of the country.
Allahabad native Urmila Gupta, 24, has been standing in the line for almost an hour. She is in Mumbai on a vacation. “Whenever we come to the city, a visit to Mumba Devi is a must. I have great faith in her,” she says. “Mumba Devi makes no distinction between migrants and originals.”
For retired central railway employee ML Shukla, faith in Mumba Devi runs deep in the family. From his grandfather to his son, all are die-hard devotes of city’s most revered goddess. A regular at the temple, the 65-year-old spends two days every week in the service of the temple. “I help the administration to streamline the queue on Sundays. I love to blow the conch shell during the aarti.”
What most people don’t know is that the entire panel of priests, who perform the temple rituals, have their roots in North India — Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. The meals, bhog, offered every day to the deity is cooked by Lalchand Jha, a native of Bihar.
The majority of flower vendors inside the temple premises have their roots in North India. “Our forefathers migrated here from Rajasthan way back in 1925. They set up shops in the temple, which were purchased by North-Indians over the years,” explained a vendor.
And a majority of Maharashtrian worshippers are more than happy to welcome worshippers from North India, even if it means changing the rituals to accommodate them. Ramesh Panshikar, 75, says: “Initially, we would offer green cotton saris, flowers and coconuts. Today, bright red chunris and packets of sweets have replaced them. But these are signs of changing times. This hasn’t affected the holiness of the place. I am happy more people across the country are visiting the temple.”
k_shubhangi@dnaindia.net
