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| KARNI MATA
FAIR, DESHNOK |
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| Celebrated In
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Deshnok, Bikaner, Rajasthan. |
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| Temple :
Karni Mata Temple |
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| Time of the
festivity :
1st Fair in March - April, 2nd
Fair in September - October. |
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| Karni Mata Fair is held twice a
year at Deshnok, a small town near Nokha in Bikaner district. The first and
larger fair is held in March-April during the Navratras from Chaitra Shukla
Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi. The second fair is held in September- October,
also during the Navratras, from Ashvin Shukla Ekam to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi. |
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| Karni Mata was an ascetic who led a righteous
life dedicated to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden of all
communities. It is believed that she possessed supernatural powers. The
foundation of Deshnok was laid by her and she has been worshipped as a goddess
by her principal followers, 'Charans', as well as the rulers of Bikaner, who
regarded her as the patron deity. The Karni Mata Fair is held in her honour. |
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| The Karni Mata Temple at Deshnok
is a stone and marble structure and is also known as Madh. Inside the shrine, a
75 cms. image of Karni Mata adorned with a 'mukut' (tiara) and garlands is
installed. Her image is accompanied by the images of her sisters and the
sisters of Avad Mata. The Rajputs bring their children on 'jadula' (their first
hair cut) and place them at the deity's feet for blessings. Most of the people
come to the shrine from Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Ganganagar and Churu Districts. |
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| WORSHIP &
RITUALS |
| The temple is thrown open to the
public early in the morning at 4.00 am. Charan priests perform Mangla -Ki-Aarti
and offer 'bhog' (special food) as worship. |
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| A peculiar characteristic of the
temple is the legion of brown rats roaming about in large numbers in the
temple. They are considered to be auspicious and the devotees make offerings to
these rats. Two kinds of offerings are made to Karni Mata. The 'Dwar Bhent' is
distributed to the priests and the workers. The 'Kalash Bhent' is utilised for
the temple maintenance and development. |
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