NORTH GUWAHATI, April 22 - Amid religious revelry, a large number of devotees hailing mostly from the surrounding areas of the holy Dirgheswari Devalaya here celebrated the Madan Chaturdashi festival on Wednesday. The holy day is observed for Lord Shiva and Goddess Dirgheswari.
After performing religious rituals, the idol of Goddess Dirgheswari placed in a decorated chariot was carried by devotees in a religious procession, covering the main thoroughfares of North Guwahati, in the evening.
The Goddess was then taken to the sacred Aswaklanta Devalaya situated on the western side of Monikarneswar after bathing it with holy water from the sacred �Bishnupad.� Later, the devotees proceeded towards Monikarneswar Devalaya at Rajaduar, where Lord Shiva is believed to be present as the divine bridegroom during the sacred ceremony.
With the performance of Vedic rituals, the divine marriage was performed between Lord Shiva and Mother Dirgheswari. After celebrating the celestical marriage amid the chanting of Vedic hymns in an age-old tradition, the divine bride was taken back in the wee hours of the day by the devotees, who carried Her back to Her abode on the Sitachal Hills.
