Bringing the spiritual charm of distant pilgrimage destinations closer to devotees, Sindh Mata Mandal in Khamla Sindhi Colony has recreated the famous Lakshmi Narasimha Temple of Telangana as its Navratri theme this year. The mandal, which has been celebrating Navratri since 1997, is continuing its tradition of presenting devotees with the experience of visiting renowned religious destinations without having to travel long distances. The preparations for this year’s theme have been underway for the past month under the guidance of Kolkata-based artist Sudipto Sarkar. With every passing year, the mandal strives to make its presentation more impressive than the previous one, giving devotees an opportunity to experience the atmosphere and spiritual significance of famous temples and pilgrimage sites.

 

‘We try to recreate religious places located hundreds or even 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres away from Nagpur. Many people are unable to visit these destinations because of distance, age or other reasons. Through our themes, we try to bring the experience of darshan closer to them,’ said Prakash Totwani, General Secretary of the mandal. The mandal’s themes are inspired by famous religious places and their distinctive surroundings. Last year, it recreated Shiv Dongri in Rajasthan, associated with the period of Agyatvas in the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas are believed to have stayed incognito in the Virat Nagar region. This year, the focus shifts to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Telangana, with the aim of creating an immersive setting that allows devotees to experience the essence of the sacred destination. Sindh Mata Mandal has completed 29 years of its Navratri celebrations. Narayan Bhojwani is the President of the mandal. Through its annual themes, the mandal continues to combine devotion, artistic creativity and cultural tradition, transforming Navratri into an opportunity for devotees to explore the spiritual heritage of different parts of the country.