Collector Offers Liquor to Chobis Khamba Mata:On Maha Ashtami, he walks 27 km across Ujjain, visiting 40 temples in city-wide worship

On Tuesday morning, on Mahashtami of Sharadiya Navratri, the traditional government city worship took place in Ujjain. Collector Roshan Singh and his representative offered liquor to Mahamaya and Mahalaya Mata at Chobis Khamba Mata Temple and performed traditional worship. After this, led by the Collector, more than a dozen Patwaris, Kotwars, along with many officers, employees and devotees, will walk 27 kilometers, pouring liquor on the road, and perform worship in about 40 temples. This tradition of city worship has been going on since the time of King Vikramaditya. For this, the Excise Department provides 31 bottles of liquor free of charge to the Revenue Department. See 2 pictures… The culmination will be at Bhairav Temple The city worship (Nagar Puja) began at 8 AM at Chobis Khamba Temple, which will conclude around 8 PM at Handi Phod Bhairav Temple. During this, worship will be offered at the city’s Devi, Bhairav, and Hanuman temples. In the Nagar Puja, the Mother Goddess is prayed to for the city’s happiness, prosperity, and protection from natural calamities. On Maha Ashtami, family deities are also worshipped in homes. Accompanied by drums and traditional instruments, the Collector will offer liquor to the Mother Goddess. During this, sixteen items of adornment (solah shringar), a chunari (scarf), and ‘badbakhal’ offering will also be presented to the Mother Goddess. During the Nagar Puja, a large number of devotees will participate in the temple from morning itself. On the same day, at 12 PM, government worship (Shaskiya Puja) is also performed in the sanctum sanctorum of Harsiddhi Temple by offering adornment items to the Mother Goddess. It is believed that offering liquor to the Mother Goddess brings happiness and prosperity to the city. Worship in 40 temples during a 27-kilometer journey After the worship of Mata Mahamaya and Mahalaya at Chobis Khamba Temple, the official contingent sets out for the Nagar Puja (city worship). The Kotwar carries a pot full of liquor, its stream flowing onto the city’s roads. Members of the official contingent, who set out with drums, perform worship for 12 hours in 40 temples of goddesses (Devi), Bhairav, and Hanuman, including Chamunda Mata, Bhukhi Mata, Kaal Bhairav, and Chandmund Nashini, located within a 27-kilometer radius. Liquor is offered to the goddesses and Bhairav. Flags are offered in Hanuman temples. Around 8 o’clock, after worship at Garh Kalika Mata Temple, the puja concludes at Handi Phod Bhairav Temple. The Patwari is responsible Balbakal offering is made by boiling black chickpeas and wheat. About 45 types of items for worship are collected two days in advance. One day before, about 35 kg of Balbakal is prepared by boiling black chickpeas and wheat near the Chaubis Khamba Mata Temple. Along with this, poori-bhajiya are also made as an offering to the Mother Goddess. On the day of Ashtami, all the items are prepared and kept ready by 6 am. As soon as the procession ends, there is a rush to get the cloth. During the Nagar Puja, a red cloth is used in all forty temples. Vermilion and kumkum are applied to it, and it is worshipped in all Bhairav and Mata temples. When the procession concludes at the Handi Phod Bhairav Temple, small pieces of the red cloth are distributed to devotees as prasad. It is believed that these are tied at home to protect children from the evil eye. King Vikramaditya used to worship Devi and Bhairav The history of Nagar Puja is said to be about a thousand years old. It is believed that the tradition of Nagar Pujan at the Chaubis Khamba Mata Temple has been ongoing since the reign of Emperor Vikramaditya in Avantika Nagari. Emperor Vikramaditya worshipped Mata Mahalya and Mahamaya along with Bhairav, so that prosperity and happiness would prevail in the city and there would be no fear of any disease or natural calamity. For this reason, offerings (bhog) are made to Mata and Bhairav on Maha Ashtami of the Navratri festival. After offering liquor, liquor is also poured throughout the city so that unsatisfied souls may be appeased and protect the city. Temple built on 24 pillars Inside the ancient Devi temple, there are 24 black stone pillars, which is why it is called Chobis Khamba Mata Temple. This used to be the ancient entrance to Ujjain city, and a rampart was also built around it. Bhairav and Devi are seated at the four gates of ancient Avantika (Ujjain), famous for Tantra sadhana, protecting the city from calamities and misfortunes. Choubis Khamba Mata is one of them. This temple is said to be about 1000 years old. According to an inscription in the temple, the practice of animal sacrifice was once prevalent here, but it was abolished in the 12th century. The clear reason why this temple is called Choubis Khamba Mata Temple is that the entrance is based on 12-12 pillars on both sides. It got its name due to these total 24 grand, attractive, and colossal black stone pillars.