Navratri Rush at Maa Bamleshwari Dham

Like every year, during the Navratri festival, fairs and food stalls will be set up to entertain the devotees visiting Dongargarh. Police and administrative staff will be deployed 24 hours a day to ensure that devotees do not face any problems.
The Maa Bamleshwari Dham in Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh, is once again ready for the Navratri festival. During the Chaitra and Kwar Navratris, millions of devotees from India and abroad visit the temple to seek the blessings of the Mother Goddess. This year, in view of the large crowds, the temple trust and district administration have paid special attention to every aspect, from security to facilities. Sharadiya Navratri will begin this year on September 22nd and continue until October 2nd.

This Dham in Dongargarh is located at an altitude of approximately 1,600 feet, and reaching it requires climbing more than 1,000 stairs. A ropeway has been installed for the convenience of devotees, however, a recent accident has raised safety concerns. After technical inspection and repairs, the ropeway has been reopened. This time, the Trust has clarified that the ropeway will operate from morning to night during Navratri, with regular maintenance scheduled in between.

The story of Dongargarh is woven of centuries of faith and folklore: known in ancient times as "Kamavati" (or Kamakhya Nagari), this place was, according to popular legend, the center of the kingdom of King Kamsen, whose penance is believed to have brought forth Goddess Baglamukhi/Bamleshwari here; some accounts also link it to the story of Vikramaditya of Ujjain, and local archaeological records and folklore place the temple at approximately 2,000–2,200 years old.

The Badi Bamleshwari (approximately 1,600 feet) located on a high hilltop and the Choti Bamleshwari located on a lower peak—both have cultivated a pilgrimage tradition over time; the "Jyoti Kalash" (the sacred flame) and the influx of devotees during Navratri keep this shrine alive even in modern times. With development, facilities like ropeways and railways have made access easier.

Today, the temple trust and district administration organize the reception of pilgrims, balancing traditional faith with modern facilities. For the convenience of devotees, the goddess has also taken the form of Chhoti Bamleshwari and Manjhali Ranchandi at the foot of the hill. This is why both the Badi and Chhoti Mata temples are thronged with devotees.

During the Navratri festival, Dongargarh's most significant tradition is the lighting of the Jyoti Kalash. This year, according to the trust, approximately 7,000 Jyoti Kalash will be lit in the upper temple, 900 in the lower temple, and 61 in the Sheetla Mata temple. Devotees from various states across the country, as well as from countries like the United States, Australia, and Namibia, will offer their prayers.

In view of the increasing number of devotees, the trust has arranged a spacious parking lot in Chirpani. The temple is just half a kilometer from the railway station, making it easily accessible by auto or on foot. CCTV cameras have been installed in the temple complex and on the uphill paths. Facilities such as an air-conditioned waiting hall, canteen, cold water supply, and medical booths have been further strengthened, and the administration has completed preparations for the fair.

A symbol of faith and belief, Maa Bamleshwari Dham is a major center of faith not only for Chhattisgarh but for the entire country. The throngs of devotees who flock here during Navratri are proof that for devotees, Maa Bamleshwari is not only a place of faith but also a source of assurance that their wishes will be fulfilled.