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3. Karni Mata Festival
Rajasthan is one of those destinations in India, which is globally renowned for its historical and cultural heritage. It is the land of forts and palaces. But not to forget, it is also well known for its enchanting festivals and fairs. The Karni Mata festival is one of the most popular festivals in the state. It is also one of the major tourist allurments in the state.Deshnok town in Bikaner is the host of this auspicious ocassion.
There is an interesting background to Karni Mata Festival. It is dedicated to mystic Karni Mata who was believed to have supernatural powers. She lived her life serving poor and needy people. She was worshipped as a Goddess in the whole district of Bikaner. After her mysterious disappearance from her house, her devotees established a temple for worship.
The famous 600 year-old temple, is home to thousands of rats. They’re considered to be sacred, and are offered food and protection. The temple is dedicated to an ancient mystic who’s believed to have been a reincarnation of the Goddess Durga. Interestingly, the souls of Karni Mata’s devotees are said to reside in the rats.
Twice a year, pilgrims flock to the Karni Mata temple to worship Goddess Durga and her incarnations. The largest of these festivals takes place in March-April, during Navratras (from Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi) on the Hindu calendar. The second smaller festival is held in October-November, also during the Navratras (from Ashvin Shukla to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi).
