Wearing eight arms, Mother Kalyani gave darshan of Chandraghanta form, women sang hymn “Come to courtyard, Maharani Mai, Kalyani Mai”

Vedic Brahmins performed Shatchandi Mahayagya and tonsured children

Prayagraj: In the Shaktipeeth Maa Kalyani Devi temple, Mangala Aarti was performed by Pandit Shyam Ji Pathak at 5:15 am for darshan and worship of the form of Maa Chandraghanta Devi. The queue of devotees remained till 12:30 midnight. The entire Kalyani area reverberated with the chants of Maa Kalyani. The Chandraghanta form of Maa was beautifully decorated. Maa was mounted on a lion and held many weapons in her ten arms. Maa was adorned with gold, silver ornaments and flowers of jasmine and rose. Maa’s sanctum sanctorum was decorated with night jasmine, rose and marigold. With the playing of conch, bell and Ghadiyal, the temple’s president Pandit Sushil Pathak performed Maa’s Maha Aarti at 7 pm. Thousands of devotees participated in the Aarti.

Pandit Sushil Pathak explained that devotees performed worship at the Shat Chandi Maha Yagna, conducted by Vedic Brahmins. A group of women sang hymns praising the Mother Goddess. Children also underwent the tonsure ceremony.

Media in-charge Rajesh Kesarwani said that on Chaturthi Wednesday, Maa Kalyani Ji will be adorned in the form of Bhagwati Kushmanda. Maa will appear riding on a lion and in her eight-armed form, holding many weapons. Maa will be adorned with pearl jewellery and many types of flowers. The sanctum sanctorum will be decorated by the servants. Maa’s darshan and worship will be from 5:30 am to 1 pm, Maa Kalyani Ji’s middle adornment will be from 6 pm to 12:30 midnight.