Crime Branch Worships 36-Year-Old Recovered Panchadhatu Goddess Idol During Navratri; Police Commissioner To Attend Maha Aarti
Mumbai: As the festive spirit of Navratri gathers momentum across Mumbai and Maharashtra, a unique tradition of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch has come into focus. A 3.5-foot-tall idol of a goddess made of panchadhatu (a five-metal alloy), recovered during a theft investigation nearly 36 years ago, is worshipped with devotion during the nine days of Navratri. Police Commissioner To Attend Maha…
Mumbai's Crime Branch has been observed worshipping a 36-year-old panchadhatu goddess idol during Navratri. The 3.5-foot-tall idol, recovered from a theft investigation in 1989, is to be honored with rituals on the ninth day, including a Maha Aarti attended by Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. The idol, once a highlight in the old Crime Branch building, is now worshipped on the ground floor where the Commissioner works.
A mangalsutra made of gold is offered to the deity. The tradition, believed to have started in 1990, is maintained annually by retired women officers and includes a Mahaprasad for devotees. The goddess is considered sacred by police personnel and is reportedly sought for blessings before major investigations.
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