PATAN DEVI

"Of the more orthodox deities of the Hindu Pantheon the most popular is Kali, whose chief temple is in Patna City at Kalishthan near Mangle’s tank. In her various forms she is regarded as the tutelary goddess of the City, and there are two old shrines there dedicated to her under the name of Patan Devi, one in the Chowk and the other in Alamganj. Under the form of Sitala all Hindus, from Brahmans down to Doms worship her, wherever there is an epidemic of small-pox. When anyone is attacked by the disease, a small piece of ground near the patient is given sweet-meats and fanned with a twig of the neim, which is here favourite"  This custom is still prevalent.

As in many other places, a mela is also held near these temples at the time of Vijayadashmi. On Saptami, Ashtami and Navamiduring the mela about 600 persons come to offer prayers daily at either of the two temples. Visitors generally bring sweets, garlands and fruits to offer to the deities. The priest of the temple takes some quantity of the prasad and returns the rest to the devotees and marks their forehead with rori (red powder). The devotees also give some money to the priest as dakshina.

As regards the routine of the rituals, the deity is daily bathed morning and evening and this is followed by offerings of prasad (fruits and sweetmeats etc.) and arti with the usual reciting of hymns by the priest, accompanied by the ringing of bells.

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