Chandi Mata Temple, Ghunchapali (Bagbahra)

01The rock that grew

The image is a rock shaped by nature into the form of the Devi, about 23 feet high, and devotees believe it has slowly grown. In older times the place was known as a seat of tantric practice, closed to ordinary pilgrims; in the 20th century it was opened to all and became one of the most visited Devi shrines of the state. Navratri brings jyoti kalash by the thousand, lamps kept burning for the nine nights in the name of families.

02The bears at aarti

For years a mother sloth bear and her cubs have come down from the forest around the time of the evening aarti, walked among the devotees, eaten the prasad laid out for them and gone back, without harming anyone. People call them the Devi’s own guests. The forest department asks visitors not to feed them by hand or crowd them. The temple is about 5 km from Bagbahra on the Raipur–Khariar road.