Bhawan...
Ornamentation...
The
ornamentation of the Holy Pindies was done gradually over
a period of time since the discovery of the Holy Shrine.
Various devotees offered jewelry, crowns, Chhatras, idols
etc, for the ornamentation of the Holy Pindies. The same
ornamentation continued all these years and everything was
kept practically untouched. Various idols and statues donated
by the Kings and placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum were also
visible immediately behind the Pindies. This resulted in
a cluttering of the Sanctum Sanctorum and many pilgrims
complained that the decorations and ornamentations tended
to overshadow the Holy Pindies themselves.
With the inception of the Shrine Board, it was decided
to use a curtain behind the Holy Pindies and use fewer flowers
for day to day ornamentation and decoration, in order to
enable the pilgrims to have more visibility and better Darshans
of the Holy Pindies. The use of curtains and fewer flowers
coupled with efforts to inform and educate the pilgrims
regarding the main Darshans brought in positive results
and yatries reported to having more satisfying and complete
Darshans.
Then, in 2000-01, on the persistent requests of many devotees
and with the efforts of the Shrine Board, the entire ornamentation
of the Holy Pindies was redone in 52 kgs of pure gold, besides
diamonds and precious stones. The platform around the Holy
Pindies and the patio type structure just outside the Holy
Cave, popularly known as Atka were also renovated with white
marble. The work was completed on 31st January 2001 and
after Poojan and Havan, the items of the ornamentation were
presented at the lotus feet of the Divine Mother.
Although the fresh ornamentation of the Holy Pindies has
only recently been completed, yet there are continuing requests
from devotees who wish to offer ornaments, chatters or other
similar offerings in the Holy Cave. While smaller ornaments
can be put into the jewelry box placed on the platform in
the Holy Cave, larger ornaments may be deposited with the
Board’s Office at Katra or Holy Bhawan under proper
receipt. The larger ornaments are then carefully stored
in the Strong Room and used for ornamentation and decoration
of the Pindies on a rotational basis.
