Ganga Maiya Temple
Ganga Maiya Temple is located at Jhalmala, near Balod-Durg road, in Balod Tehsil of Chattisgarh. It is a religious place with historic importance. This temple has a glorifying bliss and a very enchanting history.
The history of the construction of the temple is also curious. Once a fisherman catching fish in the pond near the village encountered an idol that got caught in the net, along with the fish. However hard he tried to immerse the idol in water sifting it from his net, it just remained stuck inside. Frustrated, he went home.
That very same night, a tribal villager, Gond had a dream about "I am being ignored by fishermen and take me out and get installed". Taking this as a sermon from the goddess, Gond, the tribal went to the pond the next morning and retrieving the idol, installed it in a 'kutcha' hut, near the village.
Initially, it was renovated by Shri Bhikam Chand Tawri and a fresh temple shape was given. After this, the whole reconstruction process began, and is now the premier place bustling with activities.
History Of Ganga Maiya Temple
The Ganga Maiya Temple in Chhattisgarh has an exciting history. The story claims that a fisherman was fishing in the nearby lake when he saw an idol stuck in his net. Although he said it was just a stone, he again threw the idol into the lake. The same night, Goddess Ganga came in one of the villager’s dreams and said to remove the idol from the lake. The story was narrated to everyone in the village.
The next day, the idol was taken out with the help of a fishing net at the spot where it had been thrown. Initially, the idol of Goddess Ganga was placed in a small hut near the village.
There is another story that says, that during the construction of canals under the reign of the Britishers, they made a lot of efforts to remove the idol of Ganga Maiya from the temple; despite Adam Smith’s massive efforts, they could not remove it.
The temple was constructed at the same place by a person named Bhikam Chand Tiwari, and the temple has undergone various restoration procedures. Today, the temple is one of the most unique places in India that attracts people from every corner of the world. They visit to seek the holy blessings of the Goddess Ganga. The temple trust also participates in social services. It organizes events such as blood donations and medical camps in the village.
What Are the Festivals Celebrated In Temple?
India is a country that worships feminine energy in the form of Goddess Shakti, and Goddess Durga and Navratri is the most significant religious festival celebrated in India. Similarly, The Ganga Maiya Temple is known for its Navratri festival; thousands of devotees visit this temple during Navratri to celebrate.
During Navratri, some devotees are on fast and visit Goddess Ganga barefoot. Apart from that, this place is known for “Jyoti Kalash Darshan” and “Mundan Sanskar.”
