Navratri 2021: top 7 most famous durga temples in india

Goddess Durga is one of the major deities being worshipped by Hindus. She is believed to be the creation of Lord Vishnu, as a warrior goddess, to relieve the world of the cruelties of the buffalo demon Mahishasur. According to Hindu Mythology, Durga is the powerful combination of Goddess Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati. It is why a Durga statue is portrayed as a warrior woman, clad in a red saree, with eight hands carrying different weapons along with a conch and lotus flower. The deity is worshipped as a Divine force for protection against evils, gaining strength, motherhood and winning wars against enemies. Durga Puja is a famous Hindu festival celebrated for celebrating the victory of Durga over Mahishasur, i.e. good over evil. The nine days’ festival called ‘Navratri’ is celebrated every year to honour the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga. During the year 2021, the celebration of Navratri starts on 7th October and shall end on 15th October. People throng different temples of Goddess Durga built all over the country. Some of the most famous Durga temples of India are given here below :  

Maa vaishno devi temple (j&k) : 

Maa Vaishno Devi Temple, situated at an approximate height of 5200 feet above sea level in the Trikuta hills of Jammu & Kashmir, is one of the most famous and holiest pilgrim spots dedicated to Goddess Durga. Many visitors, approximately 10 million in numbers, visit this temple during a year, especially during Navratri. The 12 km journey from Katra to the Holy shrine is a journey of places where Mata Vaishnavi had spent some time. This temple has been formed with naturally formed rock structures called Pindies.  

Naina devi temple (bilaspur):  

Another famous temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is Naina Devi Temple. It is situated on the top of a hill in beautiful surroundings in Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh), from where the Gobind Sagar Lake is quite visible. A large number of devotees visit this place during Navratri. According to Hindu Mythology, Sati killed herself by jumping into a yagna. Seeing this, Lord Shiva got aggravated and performed Tandava. All other Gods got frightened to see this, and so, at their request, Lord Vishnu cut Satis corpse into 51 parts. All these 51 places where Sati’s pieces fell have been named Shakti Peetha, where temples in honour of Goddess Durga have been built. Since the eyes of Sati fell at this place, this Mahakali temple has been named as Naina Devi Temple. A cable car for fetching the devotees from the bottom of the hill to the temple also exists. 

Kamakhya temple (guwahati) : 

It is situated at Nilachal hills of Guwahati; it boasts of one of the best Durga temples where the celebrations in her honour are made with great pomp and show. It is where the genitals (uterus) of Sati fell when they were cut into parts by Lord Vishnu. The temple houses 10 deities in its complex. People visit this all over the year, especially during Navratri and Durga Pooja. It also celebrates an annual festival every year, called the Ambubachi Mela, where the menstruation of the goddess is observed.  

Dakshineswar temple (kolkata) : 

The Dakshineswar Temple, dedicated to Bhavatarini, another form of Kali, is situated on the eastern banks of river Hooghly. Goddess Bhavatarini is believed to liberate her devotees from the cycle of births. Rani Rashmoni built this famous Kali temple of Kolkata in the year 1855. The temple has beautiful architecture. There are twelve other small temples around it in dedication to Lord Shiva. A bathing ghat and a shrine in the dedication of its founder Rani Rashmoni also stands there. Grand scale festivities are held every year during Navratri and Durga Pooja. If someone during these times cannot visit this temple, then they can choose to worship at home too. All they have to do is buy Durga idol online & worship the Durga mantra 11 times. 

Karni mata temple (bikaner) : 

The Karni Mata Temple, situated 30 km from Bikaner, in Deshnok (Rajasthan), is a famous temple dedicated to Karni Mata, another incarnation of Goddess Durga. This 600-year-old temple is also known as the Temple of Rats as it has about 20000 black rats. According to Hindu Mythology, Karni Mata, who dedicated her life to the services of the poor, was once married to Depa. After that, she felt that their marriage was depriving her of servicing the poor, and hence got her sister Gulab married to Depa. One of their sons, Lakhan, drowned to death after falling into a water tank. Karni Mata then requested Yama, the God of Death, to return life to his son Lakhan. But since Lakhan had taken rebirth as a rat, her request was declined but blessed that all her future descendants would be born as rats in her temple and after their life as rats would take rebirth as humans. People throng the place during the Navratri, where the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm.  

Danteshwari temple (jagdalpur): 

Danteshwari Temple is another most famous temple of Goddess Durga, built by Chalukyas in the 14th century and situated at Jagdalpur/Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas where the Sati’s teeth fell after being chopped by Lord Vishnu’s Chakra. The main attraction of this is a grand procession taken out once a year when several tribes from nearby carry the Durga idols all around the city. During the Navratri, the lighting up of Jyoti Kalashas also presents a festive look.  

Jwalaji devi temple (kangra): 

Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, situated in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and a renowned temple of Jwalamukhi, the Goddess of Light. At this place, the tongue of the corpse of Sati fell after being chopped by Lord Vishnu. The temple is famous for nine continuously burning flames in the temple, after each goddess, for many years, the main flame being positioned in a squarish central pit of a hollow stone. Its golden dome, silver doors, and a huge brass bell (gifted by the King of Nepal) add to its beauty. According to Hindu Mythology, Mughal Emperor Akbar once tried to douse the flame with water but failed to do so. He then bowed down to Jwala Devi‘s powers and offered a gold umbrella, which immediately turned into copper. Akbar’s gift was declined by Goddess Jwala Devi, which made him a devotee of her.