Shoolini fair begins in Himachal

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Century-old religious fair begins in Himachal

 

Solan (Himachal Pradesh),

June 20, 2008 (IANS)

 

A three-day fair to mark the journey of Hindu goddess

Shoolini, the presiding deity of this Himachal town, to the

abode of her elder sister goddess Durga began here Friday

with a colourful procession. Hundreds of devotees flocked

to goddess Shoolini's temple to seek blessings and then

accompanied her bedecked palanquin to the temple of

goddess Durga. The fair will conclude with a procession

bringing the deity back to her own temple after three days.

 

It is believed that the fair was started about a century ago by

the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Baghat to promote

trade and cultural activities in the region.

 

However, this time the procession was taken out without the

idol of goddess Shoolini. Two of the centuries-old eight

metallic idols of the goddess and seven crowns were stolen

from the temple in April.

 

On the same night, thieves also stole idols and valuables

from a temple in Rajgarh town, about 50 km from here. In

May, ancient coins and silver artefacts were stolen from the

Suryavanshi temple in Kullu district.

 

Two Nepalis are believed to have masterminded the thefts

and fled across the border.

 

Solan Senior Superintendent of Police S.P.S. Verma told

IANS that police teams have been sent to Nepal to trace the

accused.

 

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