Maihar Navratri Fair Begins; Devotees Arrive in Large Numbers
Maihar: The famous Navratri fair at the Maa Sharda Devi Temple in Maihar commenced on Sunday, October 11, drawing a large number of devotees for worship. The fair will continue until October 20, and arrangements have been made to ensure a safe and smooth darshan (viewing of the deity) for pilgrims arriving from various parts of the country.
The temple management committee and the district administration have made provisions for security, drinking water, sanitation, parking, and crowd management to ensure a comfortable experience for the devotees.
The temple premises, the fairgrounds, and key locations—including the Alha Temple, the pond, the Akhada, and the Dulha Dev Temple—have been decorated with colorful lights. Major roads and intersections in Maihar have also been adorned. Signboards and banners have been installed to guide visitors to the temple, parking areas, and other facilities.
Arrangements have been made for drinking water through 18 pump houses and 18 water tankers. Social organizations are also providing free drinking water at various locations. Special teams have been deployed to maintain cleanliness and ensure the regular cleaning of public toilets.
Ropeway service will operate
Security arrangements include CCTV surveillance and monitoring via a control room. Magistrates and district officials have been assigned duties within the fair area. To assist devotees in reaching the temple, the ropeway service will operate from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM.
For traffic management, separate parking arrangements have been made for large and small vehicles. Auto-rickshaws operating in Maihar have been instructed to display their identification numbers.
Various Cultural Programs to be Organized
Throughout the nine-day fair, events featuring devotional music, songs dedicated to the Goddess, Garba, Dandiya, and Ramlila will be held. Competitions such as Rangoli, painting, Mehndi, and folk dance will further enhance the festive atmosphere. The temple committee has also arranged for *laddu* *prasad* made from pure *desi* ghee, with a 250-gram packet priced at ₹150.