Sunday Mid Day reports from Mahalaxmi, where two of the city's most popular deities are attracting devotees by the hordes
Sunday Mid Day reports from Mahalaxmi, where two of the city's most popular deities are attracting devotees by the hordes
On Saturday January 1, the first day of the new decade, people thronged to the Haji Ali Dargah and the Mahalaxmi Temple, causing chock-a-block traffic at the Haji Ali junction. 
Devotees at Haji Ali Dargah on 1.1.11. Pic/ Sayed Sameer Abedi
Usha Chavhan, a homemaker from Sion, left home at 10 am, but got the deity's darshan only at 3 pm. "The darshan was great, but there were just too many people there." Yet, the mood at the temple was upbeat.
Shouts of 'Jai Mata Di' energised the faithful every few minutes. Said Arati Shelar, owner of Ashok Chat Bhandar at Mahalaxmi, "There are definitely more people here and business is better than usual."
"There must easily be 15,000 to 20,000 devotees here; the queue must be about 1.5 to 2 km long," said Bhalchandra Walavalkar, assistant manager at the Mahalaxmi Temple office. "Devotees have been lining up since 5 am," he added.
Security concerns
With such large numbers gathered in a small area, security became an issue. Announcements for lost children were being heard over loudspeakers as the crowd inched along. Police inspector Sudhir Mari's team from Gaon Devi Police Station has been on duty for more than four days.
Elaborating on the difficulties in managing the large numbers, he said, "We have stationed 22 policemen at the temple. The crowd, comprised mostly of women, is not easy to handle since we have very few women officers right now."
Snehal Barge waited in line for two hours with her husband and two children for darshan at the Mahalaxmi Temple and at the Siddhivinayak Mandir in Dadar. "It's the last couple of days of chutti for the kids, and the first day of the year. So, we wanted to come visit the deities. My son studying in standard 8 fainted while waiting for Mahalaxmi darshan."
Why the rush?
The sudden rush seems to be a combined effect of the end of the Margashirsha month ofu00a0 fasts, the first day of the new decade and the last weekend of Christmas school vacations. Margashirsha is the ninth month according to the traditional Hindu calendar, and believed to be one of the most auspicious months.
Cherished patron saint
However, the crowd at Haji Ali Dargah seemed to be enjoying their evening out, with many sitting by the walkway and bathing in the water after paying their respects at the dargah. Said Mohammed Mumtaz, who runs a general store, "It's the first day of the New Year, and people want to pray. Naturally, business is good." Ankit Verma and his family of four -- two kids in tow -- travelled to Haji Ali from Ulhasnagar to visit Peer Baba's grave. "It took us an hour, but that's alright." Love for Mumbai's patron saint has worshippers looking far beyond the crowd and dirt.
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