NORTH GUWAHATI, April 12 � Amid religious revelry, a large number of devotees, hailing mostly from surrounding villages of the renowned Dirgheswari Dewalaya, celebrated the Madan Chaturdashi festival on April 5 last. The day is observed as the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and goddess Dirgheswari.
After performing religious rituals, the icon of goddess Dirgheswari placed in a decorated chariot was carried by enthusiastic devotees in a religious procession, covering the main thoroughfares of North Guwahati in the evening.
The �goddess�, when taken to Aswakhanta Dewavalaya, situated on the west of Manikarneswar, was bathed with holy water from the sacred �Bishnupad�, and later the devotees proceeded towards Manikarneswar Dewalaya at Rajaduar, where Lord Shiva is believed to be present as divine bridegroom during the ceremony.
In the midst of Vedic rituals, the divine marriage was performed between Lord Shiva and mother Dirgheswari. After celebrating at the end of the celestial marriage, the devotees took back the divine bride in the wee hours of the night in a procession to her original abode in the legendary Sitachal hills.
In the coming days of the week, Mother Dirgheswari will be carried in her chariot to the neighbouring villages. It is believed that the villages which are graced by her presence, suffer from no ailment or natural disaster for the rest of the year.
