PANCHKULA: As many as 59,000 devotees from across the country thronged Mata Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula, and Kali Mata Temple
Kalka on the first day of Navaratra on Wednesday.
A total of Rs 15.53 lakh was received as donation in both the temples.
Haryana chief minister
Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the festival after participating in a hawan at the Mata Mansa Devi Temple. The CM also inaugurated the newly-built 150-foot staircase with a budget of Rs 50 lakh in the temple.
S P Arora,
chief executive officer (CEO), Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, said all the necessary arrangements for devotees had been done in advance. From beautification of the temple to providing various facilities like water, public toilets, langar have been made. Facilities for the elderly and physically challenged people have also been provided.
The CEO said devotional actors and singers would perform every day at night to entertain devotees who have come here from far-flung places. The CEO informed that a total of Rs 11.28 lakh has been collected in the Mata Mansa Devi Temple as donations and Rs 4.25 lakh was donated at the Kali Mata Temple. Devotees also donated four nuggets of gold, 37 silver nuggets and 120 Canadian dollars at the temple.
And 32,000 devotees visited Mata Mansa Devi Temple while 17,000 devotees came to seek blessings in Kali Mata Temple. CM
Khattar said, “Every year, devotees from across the country come here to worship the goddess. I too prayed for the happiness and welfare of the whole world.”
During the inauguration, DC Mukul Kumar, local MLA Gian Chand Gupta, ADC Jagdeep Dhanda and CEO Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board S P Arora were present.