Droupadi Murmu to be second President to visit Shimla’s Sankatmochan Temple
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Will partake of ‘bhandara’ at Taradevi Temple
TNR Desk
President Droupadi Murmu is set to embark on a spiritual journey during her visit to Himachal Pradesh as she plans to visit the renowned Sankatmochan and Taradevi temples near the state capital Shimla. Scheduled for Tuesday (May 7, 2024), the President’s itinerary includes offering prayers at these temples and partaking in a special ‘bhandara’ arranged at the Taradevi temple complex.
The preparations for President Droupadi Murmu’s visit are underway with meticulous attention to detail, including arrangements for seating President Murmu in a row or at a table for the ‘bhandara’, following her approval. The culinary delights of Himachal Pradesh are set to be showcased as President Murmu will indulge in tasting 10 traditional dishes, including ‘badi’, ‘meetha badana’, ‘malpua’, ‘rajma’ and ‘kadhi-rice’, among others.
The President’s temple tour will commence at 11.25 am with obeisance at the Sankatmochan Temple. Here, President Murmu will begin by offering flowers to Ganapati in the Shodash Ganesh temple before proceeding to worship in the Ram Darbar. ‘Halwa’ will be presented to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, followed by worship and aarti of Lord Hanuman.
At 12.20 pm, President Murmu will arrive at the Taradevi Temple to seek blessings from Goddess Taradevi. Following the temple visit, she will partake in the ‘bhandara’ before returning to Rashtrapati Niwas by 2 pm. Throughout her temple visits, President Murmu will delve into the rich history of these sacred places, with the temple administration providing insights into their significance.
President Murmu’s visit to the Sankatmochan Temple adds another chapter to its history, being only the second time a President has graced its premises, the first being President Shankar Dayal Sharma. The Taradevi temple holds a significant place in local lore, housing the idol of Taradevi adorned with eight arms, crafted from Ashtadhatu. Its origins trace back to King Balveer Sen of Junga, who built the temple following a divine encounter with Mata Taradevi.
The idol, crafted from Ashtadhatu, was transported from Junga to Taradevi atop an elephant named Shankar, completing the journey in a single day. Presently, Taradevi stands as the revered family deity of King Khush Sen of Junga.
