Idol of Maa Annapurna to reach Kashi after 4-day yatra

Lucknow: The rare idol of Maa Annapurna that went missing from Kashi 100 years ago during the British era, will be installed in its home Varanasi, after returning from Canada.

This statue, which was retrieved due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is all set to be transferred to the Kashi Vishwanath Vishist Kshetra Vikas Parishad Board by the Archaeological Survey of India in a ceremony to be organized in Delhi on November 11.

The Uttar Pradesh government will take out a four-day Mata Annapurna Devi Yatra beginning in New Delhi on Thursday which will reach Varanasi on Sunday enroute 18 districts.

Finally, on the auspicious occasion of 'Devotthan Ekadashi' on November 15, a grand ceremony will be held at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the statue will be placed in its new premises after performing appropriate rituals.

The yatra will pass through Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Hathras, Aligarh, Hathras, Kasganj, Etah, Mainpuri, Kannauj, Kanpur, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh and Jaunpur and reach Varanasi at around 4.30 pm on November 14.

In order to make the procession grand, preparations are being made in all the 18 districts concerned. On the first day of journey, the procession will reach Soron, Kasganj where it will stay for a night. Next day, the idol will reach Kanpur and on November 13, the procession will reach Ayodhya.

In every district, the procession will be welcomed by the local public representatives and the minister in charge of the district. There will also be participation of the general public in this. On November 15, on the auspicious occasion of Devotthan Ekadashi, in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a grand ceremony will be organized in Varanasi to install the statue.

India soon to get back 157 more rare artefacts and idols from the US

Union Culture and Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy, in his recent visit to Lucknow, had informed that after PM Modi's recent visit to America, the path has been cleared for the return of 157 such rare antiquities which will be brought to India soon. According to the Union Minister, since 2014, 42 rare idols and antiquities have been returned to the country during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whereas from 1976 to 2013, only 13 rare statues-paintings could be brought back.

Important stopovers of the procession

November 11 – Mohan Mandir, Ghaziabad, Dadri Nagar Shiv Mandir, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Durga Shakti Peeth Khurja, Bulandshahr, Ramlila Maidan, Aligarh, Hanuman Chowki, Hathras and Soron, Kasganj

November 12 - Janta Durga Mandir, Etah, Lakhora, Mainpuri, Maa Annapurna Mandir Tirwa, Kannauj, Patkapur Mandir, Kanpur

November 13 - Jhandeswar Mandir, Unnao, Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, Lucknow, Bhitaria Bypass, Barabanki, Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya

November 14- Durga Mandir Kasba KNIT, Meenakshi Mandir Pratapgarh, Daulatiya Mandir Jaunpur, Babatpur Chauraha and Shivpur Chowk, Varanasi.