Lord Narsinhji procession cancelled due to Corona pandemic

Lord will marry Tulsiji with simplicity this year

For the last 283 years, on the day of Dev Diwali, Lord Narasinhji procession will not taken out with great enthusiasm. However this year it will not happen in view of Corona scare. On Monday Lord Shri Narasinji will go from Nij Mandir at 2 pm in a decorated luxurious car to marry Maa Tulsiji at Tulsiwadi. The priest of the temple said the marriage ritual will be completed in the evening before the curfew starts at 9 pm. 

Trustee of Lord Narasinhji temple Shashikant Parikh said, the historical temple of Lord Shri Narasinhji is located at Narasinji ni Pol at MG road in the city. Every year on Kartik Purnima the procession of the Lord was taken out with great enthusiasm. The tradition continued for the last 283 years.  But this time, due to the Corona pandemic, the government has imposed a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am and the temple has decided not to take out the procession.  However, the marriage of God will be performed with a scriptural ritual according to tradition.

He said due to the pandemic God will leave in a magnificently decorated luxurious car at 2 pm to get married at Tulsiwadi.  As per tradition, rituals including Chanla ritual have started in the temple since morning.  Devotees are coming to pay homage as per the guideline of Covid-19.  About 50 members of the family will accompany the lord and return back in the evening after completing the rituals.

Trustee Shashikant Parikh further said that according to tradition, the Lord is seated in a magnificent silver inlaid palanquin from the real temple and a procession was taken out in the evening. Tousands of people spontaneously join God’s wedding along with buggies, bands, children dressed in various costumes. The procession passed from Mandvi, Champaner Darwaza, Fatehpura and reached Tulsiwadi at night. After heavy fireworks at 12 midnight the Lord was getting married to Tulsiji and returned back to the temple early morning next day. But, this time due to the Corona pandemic Lord Narasinji will get married with simplicity.

The trustee added that even when communal riots were taking place in Vadodara, Lord Shri Narasinji’s procession was taken out with grandeur and enthusiasm. But, for the first time in its 283-year history, the Corona pandemic will not let the tradition continue.