For the fourth consecutive year, the ancient temple of Mahamaya Devi located in the city will not be illuminated with ghee lamps during the Navratra festivals.
The nine-day long festival will begin on March 31 but the temple administration has decided not to use ghee lamps in the view of widespread adulteration. Ghee adulterated with animal fat is considered unholy to be used in the temples. For several years now, the markets are flooded with adulterated ghee and the decision was taken by the temple in this respect four years ago.
Priest of the temple Manoj Shukla said that a target of lighting 10,000 lamps has been set this year against a record of 8,840 lamps lit last year but no ghee lamps will be lit.The priest of Sheetala temple, located at Amapara, Rakesh Pandey also said that no ghee lamps will be lit in the temple during the nine-day long Navratra festival.