As winter continues to grip the region with its harshness, even Gods do not remain unaffected.

Not only a change in their attire and cuisine, there is a variation in their routine too with a late rise from sleep and early schedule to bed.

At the various temples in the city, the pujaris or the  priests are adorning the deities with woolen and velvet fabrics while the public coming in for the darshan are bringing in bhogs according to the chilling climate.

Gaund Pak, Urad dal ke laddoos, moong dal barfis has become an integral part of the daily offerings along with dry fruits kaju, badam, pista and anjeer on which the lords are feasting on or rather believed to be doing so.

The Bajrangbali’s huge sized idol at Nirankari Hanuman Mandir at Ayad has been decked up with layers of white cotton indicating efforts to keep the monkey god cozy from the bitterness of winter.

The people who crowd here at the arti time have various eatable items in offering which include peanut gazak, til papadi rolls , the snacks considered healthy for the winter season. At the small temple of Lord Shiva near the municipal corporation office, the idol can be seen drapped in a warm brown blanket while at the Jagdish temple, a sigari(heater burnt from coals) has been kept to ward off cold from Srinathjis idol.

At the Radhe-Krishna temple at maanji ki sarai, the idols are kept covered in a soft rajai after dusk.  Justifying the rituals Hukumraj Pujari, the priest of Jagdish temple said ‘ it is all about love and feeling of oneness with God.

When we humans cannot stand the harsh climate, we feel same for the dieties too which are believed to have life in them, once after having undergone the Pranpratishtha ritual’. In most of the major Hindu temples across the country, the attires, bhogs and pooja schedule change according to the season and we are following that, he added.

caption- the idol of god hanuman  padded up with layers of cotton symbolically to keep him cozy.

Story by Geetha Sunil Pillai