Renowned as one of the most venerated Hindu pilgrimage sites in all of India, the Sheetala Devi Temple is a holy venue frequented by innumerable devotees each day. Attracting the largest number of pilgrims on Mondays and in the period between March to April for the Chaitra festival, this revered place of worship also known as the dwelling of Shakti Peeth is also an integral part of the religious identity of Gurgaon, Haryana, its home state.
At the heart of the shrine lies the focal point of the temple, the glimmering golden idol of the deity which has been carved from an alloy and covered almost entirely in gold leaf before being polished to perfection. Legend and local folklore states that the goddess posses powers to shield the faithful from all forms of disease which is why a majority of the devotees who flock here seek the goddess blessings in curing small pox and to guarantee protection from other serious ailments. The ritual performed to gain the goddess good favour is called the Jal Dema while a number of pilgrims also seek out this holy venue for the traditional mundan ceremony which involves the head shaving of male children in the families. As a conventional religious custom in Hinduism, Mundan ceremonies are a common sight at the temple which also hosts a variety of yoga programs and meditation sessions in addition to other religious activities. Most of the headlining events take place in the Satsang Bhawan in the temple grounds while other points of interest in the premises include a Prayer Hall, Bhandara Bhawan and the Singh Dwar Administrative sectors. Home to a water drinking and distributing facility with 6 tanks, guests will also be pleased to know that parking facilities and local guides are also available at the temple complex and its vicinity.
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