Over 25,000 Devotees Bid Farewell To Kanbai Mata In MP's Barwani

Khetia, in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani, witnessed a grand farewell procession for Kanbai Mata on Monday, concluding a three-day celebration. Over 25,000 devotees from Khetia and surrounding rural areas participated in the event. This year, Kanbai Mata was installed at over 300 locations in Khetia. The festival kicked off with prayers, bhajans, kirtans, and devotional programs. Families presented homemade offerings to the deity. A bhajan evening by Padma Shri Anuradha Paudwal is scheduled for August 22 at the Mandi premises.

Due to low rainfall and limited water in the Gomai River, Kanbai Mata was immersed at Gangaur Ghat Pansemal instead of the town's usual spot. Around 31 families from various wards installed the Kanbai Mata idols as part of the festival. During the procession, the idols were carried through major routes like Main Road, Gayatri Temple, Atal Chowk, and Uttar Gali, accompanied by drums and devotional songs.

The procession received a warm welcome from Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, who showered the procession with flowers.

MLA Shyam Barde, municipal council president Shailesh Bhandarkar, councillors, and other public representatives attended the celebrations. Municipal sanitation branch chief Satilal Marathe noted that this was the first time in his 54-year tenure that Kanbai Mata was immersed at Gangaur Ghat, as that year saw just 213.4 mm of rainfall, one of the lowest in Barwani district.