Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur immersed itself in a blend of devotion on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Janmotsav on Thursday, with the unveiling of a 51-foot asthadhatu (alloy of 8 metals) idol of Lord Hanuman.
Idol weighs 171 quintals
According to reports, the idol weighs 171 quintals, and it was unveiled at Janray Toriya in the district. Thousands of devotees began converging at the venue early in the morning to offer prayers and partake in the prasad (sacred food offering) served at a massive community feast.
Bhandara on wood-fired stoves
However, what set this grand religious gathering apart was not just the height of the idol, but the circumstances under which the massive community feast (Bhandara) was organised.
Due to the LPG shortage, the arrangements for the community feast were carried out using traditional methods, and food was prepared on wood-fired stoves.
Rajendra Agarwal, who is managing the food distribution arrangements, explained that every possible effort was made to procure gas cylinders.
The District Collector, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and gas agency operators were all contacted, but cylinders could not be secured. Consequently, embracing an age-old tradition, large stoves were constructed by digging pits into the ground.
Forest wood for fuelling stove
According to Agarwal, dry wood was collected from various villages and nearby forests; this wood was then used to fuel the stoves, enabling the preparation of the prasad and other delicacies. This adherence to traditional methods lent an even more special quality to the event.
He further noted that this community feast has been running continuously since March 24, with thousands of devotees partaking in the Bhandara every day.
On the specific day of Hanuman Janmotsav, a significant surge was observed in the number of devotees attending the event. The organisers assured that the Bhandara will go on as long as devotees continue to arrive.
The scale of the event remained undeterred. Around 50,000 people received prasad on the day of the festival alone.
