As the city of lakes is engrossed in the worship of Goddess Durga, various beautiful idols could be seen as one walks through the streets of Bhopal. Besides, there are beautiful pandals erected in the city as replica of different renowned temples of the country.
One of them is Golden Mahalaxmi Temple of Tamil Nadu. The temple is known as laxmi Naryani Temple located at Sripuram.Notably, the Maa Vaishnav Durga Utsav Samiti, Bhopal has erected the replica of this golden temple which is spread in the area of 2,500 square feet.
The golden temple of ‘Sripuram’ is a spiritual park situated at the foot of a small range of green hills in a place known as “Malaikodi” in the city of Vellore, Tamil Nadu. The temple is at the southern end of the city of Vellore, at Tirumalaikodi. This temple is known to be as the salient feature of Sripuram that was inaugurated in 2007.
Huge crowd of Bhopalis visits the replica of the temple every day and continue their devotion till 3 am in the night.
While talking to The Pioneer, patron of the committee Sunil Pandey said, “Every year we do something new. last year we had erected Tirupati Balaji and this time we have created the replica of Narayani Temple of Tamil Nadu.” He further informed that the international artists from Tamil Nadu have prepared the idol of Goddess laxmi exactly the same as kept in the temple of Tamil Nadu.
A noted artist of Tamil Nadu along with his team of 70 artists has created the replica of laxmi Narayani Mandir at Bittan Market, Bhopal. Moreover, this is something new for the Bhopalites as they are experiencing the culture of South at the city of lakes.
Moreover, the secretary of the committee, Hari Khatik said, “This time we have installed 10 feet high Goddess laxmi sitting on the lotus.” Notably, the idol of Goddess laxmi was prepared by the international artists from Tamil Nadu who made the idol over there itself and then the idol was brought safely to Bhopal.
This is not all, the pandal has 20 feet high and 20 feet wide idol of lord Ganesha, a gaushala same as the temple have been installed. Moreover, Panch Mukhi idol of lord Hanuman along with the Panch mukhi idol of lord Siva and Parvati is also installed at the pandal.
Moreover to make the pandal more interesting, as many as 200 workers of the committee are seen wearing the same colour kurtis which are worn at the golden temple of Tamil Nadu and the same Prasad ie the sabudana khichdi which is served in South is being served to the devotees. Besides, especially, a priest from South is invited to fulfill all the rituals and customs that are practiced in South for these nine days.
Pandey further informed that the total expenditure for the respective pandal cost `40 lakhs. “This is one of the costliest pandal ever erected in the city and one of its kinds in the State,” said Pandey. Further various devotional activities take place during the evening puja time. Not only the Bhopalites, but people from across the State are visiting at the pandal.