Bhadra temple set for Rs 2.5 crore-makeover
NEW FEATURES ♦ Centralised air-conditioning ♦ Gilded sanctum sanctorum ♦ Walls and ceiling made of Makrana marble ♦ 54 new idols of the goddess ♦ LCD screens beaming live aarti ♦ CCTV cameras
By Yogesh Avasthi and Mehul Jani
Posted On Saturday, May 22, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20100522201005220313023118452bc68)
The ceiling of the sanctum sanctorum will be restructured with marble. The walls of the altar (where the goddess is consecrated) will be covered in gold. A gold kalash will be placed on top of the altar
The Bhadrakali temple at Lal Darwaza, one of the most popular temples in the city, is undergoing a makeover to beat all makeovers. Believed to be as old as Ahmedabad itself, it was renovated twice — in 1895 and 1936.
This year, the temple will receive the most modern facelift, complete with LCD screens beaming live aarti, CCTV cameras and centralised AC. Work is on in full swing at the temple from 11 am to 5 pm every day to meet the December 31 deadline.To be refashioned at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, the highlight of the new look will be a gilded sanctum sanctorum (garbha griha). A kalash (a vessel to hold water) made of pure gold will crown the sanctum. The temple follows rituals by priests from Uttar Pradesh who change every six months.
The renovation of the garbha griha is pegged at Rs 65 lakh. The arch separating the garbha griha from the congregation hall will make way for an ornate wall made of Makrana marble. It is said that the Taj Mahal is made of this marble.
Even the walls and the ceiling of the hall will be restructured with marble. This will all be done at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. The gallery, that leads to the congregation hall, currently has seven idols, each an incarnation of the goddess of wealth.
Now, 54 idols (all the incarnations) of goddess Bhadrakali will be consecrated — Rs 50 lakh has been set aside for this. The huge open space in front of the temple will have thatched structures where fire pits (havan kund) will be constructed so that rituals can be carried out unhindered during the rain. The facade of the temple will also be made of marble.
Shashikant Tiwari, chairman of Rambali Prag Tiwari Trust which governs the temple for six months, said: “The cost of the makeover is Rs 2.5 crore. The garbha griha will be gold-covered. We are also installing LCD screens outside the temple so that onlookers can witness live aarti. CCTV cameras will be placed in the temple to step up security.”
Shishir Avasthi, who looks after the temple for the remaining six months of the year, said: “The oldest temple is going to be the most modern temple in the city with centralised air-conditioning system. We shall also be installing all the 54 incarnations of the goddess. We hope to complete the work by the end of the year.”
By Yogesh Avasthi and Mehul Jani
Posted On Saturday, May 22, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20100522201005220313023118452bc68)
The ceiling of the sanctum sanctorum will be restructured with marble. The walls of the altar (where the goddess is consecrated) will be covered in gold. A gold kalash will be placed on top of the altar
The Bhadrakali temple at Lal Darwaza, one of the most popular temples in the city, is undergoing a makeover to beat all makeovers. Believed to be as old as Ahmedabad itself, it was renovated twice — in 1895 and 1936.
This year, the temple will receive the most modern facelift, complete with LCD screens beaming live aarti, CCTV cameras and centralised AC. Work is on in full swing at the temple from 11 am to 5 pm every day to meet the December 31 deadline.The renovation of the garbha griha is pegged at Rs 65 lakh. The arch separating the garbha griha from the congregation hall will make way for an ornate wall made of Makrana marble. It is said that the Taj Mahal is made of this marble.
Even the walls and the ceiling of the hall will be restructured with marble. This will all be done at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. The gallery, that leads to the congregation hall, currently has seven idols, each an incarnation of the goddess of wealth.
Now, 54 idols (all the incarnations) of goddess Bhadrakali will be consecrated — Rs 50 lakh has been set aside for this. The huge open space in front of the temple will have thatched structures where fire pits (havan kund) will be constructed so that rituals can be carried out unhindered during the rain. The facade of the temple will also be made of marble.
Shashikant Tiwari, chairman of Rambali Prag Tiwari Trust which governs the temple for six months, said: “The cost of the makeover is Rs 2.5 crore. The garbha griha will be gold-covered. We are also installing LCD screens outside the temple so that onlookers can witness live aarti. CCTV cameras will be placed in the temple to step up security.”
Shishir Avasthi, who looks after the temple for the remaining six months of the year, said: “The oldest temple is going to be the most modern temple in the city with centralised air-conditioning system. We shall also be installing all the 54 incarnations of the goddess. We hope to complete the work by the end of the year.”
