Jyoti Kalash

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Jyoti Kalash (Sanskrit: ज्योती कलश) is a symbolic representation of Hindu goddess Durga. During Navaratri festival devotees light Jyoti Kalash, in temples of Devi, to appease her. Jyoti Kalash derives its name from combination of two Sanskrit words Jyoti and Kalash.

The Jyoti Kalash, consists of earthen lamps (Diyas) lit with ghee, which are placed on earthen pots (Kalasha), covered with earthen lid. The fire (Jyoti) burns continuously for nine days and nights of Navaratri, symbolizing the divine presence of mother goddess on earth during nine days of Navaratri.[1] Surrounding the main temple are many big halls where Jyoti Kalashas are lit by the devotees are kept for nine days, which are supervised by volunteers, who keep feeding the lamps with ghee for nine days.[1]

Many people install Jyoti Kalash at their home also during Navaratri. The procession of Jyoti Kalash is taken out on ninth and final day of festival to immerse the Jyoti Kalash in river or other water bodies.[2][3]

The Jyoti Kalash procession can be seen in Rajasthan[3] Uttar Pradesh,[2] Madhya Pradesh and especially in Chhattisgarh, where the festival and installation of Jyoti Kalash is very popular and people throng the temples of Bambleshwari, Danteshwari, Mahamaya, Maoli, Kankalin, Adbhar and many others to install the Jyoti Kalash.[1][4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Chhattisgarh, a land of temples". The Daily Pioneer. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shri H.S. Jain, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has arranged for Akhand Jyoti Kalash procession to immerse the same in river Kalyani. Procession is to be taken out from the prescribed route from temple of goddess Durga to the said river in village Safdarganj, district Barabanki. Vasudev Gupta v State Of U.P.,Thru. Princ. Secy., Home & Others
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "नवसंवत्सर की पूर्व संध्या पर निकाली झांकियां Jyoti Kalash procession taken out on eve of Navaratri festival - Rajasthan". Dainik Navajyoti. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Janjgir Champa Heart of Chhattisgarh". Official Website of Janjgir Champa District, Chhattisgarh. Retrieved 10 August 2012. 

External links

  • Photo of hundreds of Jyoti Kalash at Raipur.
  • Beautiful photo of Jyoti Kalashas at a temple in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Jyoti Kalash house at Ratanpur's glorious MAHAMAYA TEMPLE.

See also

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