Priests seek handover of rebuilt temple to trust
MUSSOORIE: Priests are unhappy over delay in handover of the newly rebuilt Dhari Devi temple, situated on the banks of the Alaknanda river between Srinagar and Rudraprayag under Pauri Garhwal district, to the temple trust.
The rebuilding of the temple, one of the revered shrines of the Garhwal region, has neared its completion after a nine-yearlong wait, but it is yet to be handed over to the trust, Adhi Shaktiman Dhari Devipujari Nyas. The temple priests are agitated over the delay as several tasks are yet to be completed and have demanded action against the hydel power development company that has been assigned the task to complete the rebuilding work.
According to the temple priests, the hydel project company promised in 2012 construction of a new temple using German technology at a raised level. A makeshift temple with a tin shed was set up where all the idols from the temple were to be shifted but as the Shivalaya (the seat of Lord Shiva in the temple) was not constructed on time, the idols could not be relocated.
However, the situation changed drastically on June 26, 2013 when the Kedarnath tragedy struck the region. As the water started entering the temple, the priest somehow was able to uproot the idols and put them in the temporary shed.
“The sidewalls near the entry of the bridge leading to the temple have collapsed and the bridge itself is in need of repair. We have been demanding that the administration direct the hydro development company to hand over the temple after completing all the pending works. We want the company to sign a memorandum of understanding to ensure that the trust undertakes the yearly maintenance of the temple,” said Jagdamba Prasad, the secretary of the Adhi Shaktiman Dhari Devi Pujari Nyas, the trust that looks after the daily affairs of the temple.
The GVK Group’s Alaknanda Hydro Power Company Ltd involved in the construction of the river project in the area says that the construction work has been completed. “All the work mandated to us has been completed and now it is up to the district administration to decide when it will be handed over to the temple trust,” said Santosh Reddy, director of the hydro project.
However, the district administration is not aware of the work being completed yet. “We are not aware of any work of temple completed as the hydroelectric company assigned the task has not submitted the completion certificate as yet,” Pauri district magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said. “The district administration has received several complaints about work that has been left incomplete by the company and the new temple will be handed over only after a joint inspection by the temple trust officials and the company.”
Deepak Uniyal, a social activist who led a movement against the hydro development company which allegedly was delaying the construction work here, said, “It has taken nine long years for the company to build the new temple and that too after several protest demonstrations in the past which shows the negligence shown the executing agency.”
“As the temple is nearing its completion my only demand as a true devotee is to reinstall the idols of the goddess and gods back in the same position without any further delay,” he added.
As soon as the temple is handed over to the trust, the religious procedure as per the Hindu calendar will be started to reinstall the idols of the gods and goddesses in the temple, said the temple trust members.
The temple evokes strong sentiments as several legends are attached to it right from ancient times. The chief superstition attached with the temple is that the Kedarnath calamity was the result of the removal of the idols from the temple.
Deepak Uniyal said, “The devotees are certain that the idol of the Devi should not have been disturbed and the removal of idols from the temple was the root cause for the Kedarnath temple tragedy where several thousand people lost their lives in 2013.”
Dhari Devi is considered an avatar of Goddess Kali, and is Dhari Devi temple is a popular shrine as the deity is is believed to be the guardian angel of Char Dham pilgrims.