Gariaband’s Rajim is poised to become a spiritual epicenter with the Kumbh Kalp Mela from February 1 to 15. This revered annual event in Chhattisgarh rivals Prayagraj, attracting hordes for Kalpavas and rituals. Final touches on arrangements signal an unforgettable congregation.
Puranic lore claims this site cradled the primordial lotus from Vishnu’s navel, site of Brahma’s world-building. Central is Rajiv Lochan Temple, where the deity rests, consuming bhog with telltale finger traces on plates—an unsolved riddle despite examinations.
Equaling four Dhams, the temple’s allure is unmatched. Vishnu appears as child, adult, and senior across the day in this 9th-century edifice. Its pillars narrate tales via carvings of fierce Durga, flowing Ganga-Yamuna, Rama, and Narsimha.
Held from full moon to Shivratri, the mela thrives on faith. A twist this year: liquor shops stay operational, pending orders that usually enforce 15-day halts. Public sentiment pushes for meat bans too. Rajim, the ‘second Prayag,’ weaves divinity into every devotee’s journey.