Chotila’s Chamuda mata: Photo by Jignesh Shah

By Jignesh Shah, Chotila, 28 September, 2011

A festival of bhakti, shakti and aaradhana is beginning today, and the image presented above is famous Chotila hill’s Chamuda mata’s photo. On first day of Navratri, Mataji’s Kalash sthapan ceremony will be held. Thousands of pilgrims will visit Chotila mandir during Navratri to witness daily new dressings and decorations of Mataji’s murti. On 4th of October which is 8th day of Navratri, Maha yagna will be held over the hill. During all nine days of Navratri, morning aarti will be done at 5.30 am while evening aarti will be performed at sun-set time. From ground to top of the hill – entire passage of steps has been decorated with lights during Navratri.

Ensconced at the summit of Chotila hill on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway is the famous Chamunda mata mandir. Chamunda derives her name from the two demons she killed – Chand and Mund. Originally regarded as Mahakali, the goddess presented the heads of the two evil men to Godess Amba. Amdaji, pleased to have both demons slain, said that she would hence forth be worshipped as Chamunda mata.

Chotila hill is about 1,250 feet igh and there are about 700 steps that lead to the top where the spacious temple is located. For those unable to undertake the steep climb, there is a similar temple at the base on the hill with an identical statue of the goddess.