Kondagaon. In the valleys of Bastar, famous for its amazing natural beauty and unique primitive culture, there is a natural cave whose gate opens only once a year. This year on 18th September, after the ritualistic worship, the gate of Mata Lingeshwari cave temple was opened for the devotees to visit. The devotees were eagerly waiting for the gate to open. There is a cave in the hills of Jhatiban village, three kilometers away from Alor village, located on the Badedongar road from Farasgaon in Kondagaon district, where Mata Lingeshwari resides. The gate of this cave temple was opened once a year for only one day on Wednesday. The committee members, village head and priest made preparations to open the gate of Lingeshwari Mata temple at around 4 am. After performing the puja with full rituals, the cave temple was opened by removing the stones placed at the main gate.
After opening the gate of the cave temple, thousands of devotees who had come for darshan and vows were allowed to have darshan of Mata from outside the cave. The temple committee, district administration and police team are helping the devotees to reach the temple. The number of visitors has increased this year as compared to last year. Devotees take turns to have darshan of Mata from morning to late night and pray for the fulfillment of their wishes.
Cat’s footprints found in the cave temple
The gate of the famous Lingai Mata cave opens on the first Wednesday after the ninth day of the month of Bhado in Alor Jhatiban every year. After the prayers, the priest predicts the year by looking at the footprints on the sand inside. The committee members said that every year footprints of different animals emerge on the sand inside the cave. This year footprints of a cat have been found, which means that this year there will be a situation of fear and debate in the area to the north of the temple.
Devotees come here to pray for a child
Devotees bring cucumbers with them to get a child, which are offered to the goddess. After that, the priest gives them cucumbers cut into equal parts with nails as prasad, which the devotees accept. Devotees Dulendra Kumar Sahu, a resident of Balod district and Pitambar Sahu, a resident of Arjuni, who came to get a child, said that they came to know about the temple’s recognition through other people, after which they came to visit the goddess.
