Navratri special: Devotees throng Maa Bala Sundari Temple during the 15-day grand fair.

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Chaitra Navratri is set to begin across the country on March 19th, and as such, special preparations are underway at every Devi temple. There are many temples across the country where preparations for the fair begin with the arrival of Chaitra Navratri. The Bala Sundari Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Mahamaya, is located in Trilokpur, Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, where a fair is held for 15 days.

In Trilokpur, Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, there is a temple dedicated to Goddess Bala Sundari, the goddess of Mahamaya. Her mere darshan (sight) is believed to absolve devotees of their sins. Bala Sundari is worshipped as the goddess of power, prosperity, and protection. Her grace is believed to bring relief from financial difficulties, peace in family life, and freedom from enemies. People believe that no true devotee returns empty-handed from her temple.

The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the eight-armed idol and Pindi of the Mother Goddess, who appears to the devotees in her childhood form with weapons and arms. It is believed that the Pindi of the Mother Goddess is self-manifested, which was found in a sack of salt by devotee Lala Ramdas, and she appeared in his dream and ordered the devotee to build the temple. According to the belief, in 1573 AD, the Goddess appeared in the form of a Pindi to a local shopkeeper named Lala Ramdas. The shopkeeper brought the sack of salt from Saharanpur in UP and built the temple of the Mother Goddess after coming to Trilokpur.

According to local lore, Lala Ramdas lacked the funds to build the temple. He enlisted the help of Raja Pradeep Prakash of Sirmaur, which ultimately led to the construction of the magnificent temple. Subsequent maintenance and renovations were undertaken by Raja Fateh Prakash and Raja Raghubir Prakash. The goddess Bala Sundari is also considered the family deity of the Rajputs, bestowing the boon of victory.

During Chaitra Navratri, devotees visit the temple in large numbers. The 15-day fair held here is also a major attraction for devotees. For nine days, the Mother Goddess is seen adorned with stunning ornaments.