When I think of temples I think of a stone structure with pillars and a sanctum. Or a brick and cement one with the modern look. Temples in Delhi are very different. They are more open and devotees have complete access to the main idol. There is a prachin shiv mandir very close to our house. It is a large hall and we are allowed to light lamps and even do abhisheka with milk. It's almost like you are at home!
At Manali the temples are architectural beauties. Most temples and olden houses are built or decorated with carved wooden panels. We saw this house with quaint wooden panels from our hotel balcony.
This lovely wooden temple to Ma Shakti is on the main road of manali...called Mall Road. Photography is forbidden...but we managed!!
This Shiv Mandir is a few km from Manali. The diety is called Jagatshakti Shiv. Wonderfully powerful name. The place has a large courtyard and seating. We saw a family relaxing here. They had even brought lunch.
We visited Manikaran 85km from Manali. This is the very beautiful Gurdwara with a langar (free feeding). Hymns (Gurbani) fill the air. An ornate bridge across the river Parvati connects the gurdwara to the highway.
We walk into the Gurudwara and reach the Shiv Mandir through a narrow stariway. Even the tiles on the floor of the mandir are hot! Manikaran has hot spring. Small bags with a tablespoon of washed rice are sold. You leave a rice bag in the hot spring for 10 minutes and the rice is cooked! We watched someone else trying it out.
Devotees of both religions visit both places. I found the place peaceful and powerful...like Nandi? The cooked rice is prasad. See cooked rice!
This is a temple 2km from Manali. It is to Hadimba the wife of Bhim. I always thought she was called Hidimba?? She belonged to the rakshasa clan but is venerated here as a powerful and kind goddess.
A three day festival is held in May. When I spoke to a local and refered to her as belonging to the rakshasa clan he was pained and said that they loved her as she had helped destroy evil and had done great penance. This place is really very interesting. I shall tell you more about it tomorrow.
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India is a lovely country
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At Manali the temples are architectural beauties. Most temples and olden houses are built or decorated with carved wooden panels. We saw this house with quaint wooden panels from our hotel balcony.
This lovely wooden temple to Ma Shakti is on the main road of manali...called Mall Road. Photography is forbidden...but we managed!!
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| Temple on Mall road, Manali |
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| Jagatshakti Mandir, Manali |
This is a temple 2km from Manali. It is to Hadimba the wife of Bhim. I always thought she was called Hidimba?? She belonged to the rakshasa clan but is venerated here as a powerful and kind goddess.
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India is a lovely country
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oh no! that must have been awkward!! (calling her a rakshasi!!)
ReplyDeletenice pictures. :)
Manali is best for all. Winter is the beautiful time to visit a different place with https://www.imanali.in/manali-tour-package-vizag your family. This time you have more energy then in other season by which you can visit more destination place. Due to the less of temperature you can visit any of the places without thinking so much.
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