Ahmedabad: There are three ground lights in the walled city that have maintained the light of collective faith which burned for several centuries.
From the lights stayed alive by Muslim families in Darwaza teenagers to prevent Dewi Laxmi from leaving the city, to the 227-year-old post at the Haveli Temple in the Doshiwada Police to the 600-year-old Hasti Bibi Temple in Kalupur – they are a testimony of life about how our city, cut Casses And religion, has been bound to the general story of faith and hope.
For ‘Akhand Jyot’ in Darwaza’s teenager, Popular Lore runs like this: Khwaja Siddiqui, a guard posted in Darwaza’s teenager in the ancient city of Ahmedabad, stopping Dewi Lakshmi from going without Sultan Ahmed Shah’s permission.
He made the goddess promise that he would wait there until he returned, went to the Sultan and asked to be beheaded so Dewi never left the city.
A lights on for the goddess and to keep the memory of the sacrifice of the guard life.
Zeenat Bibi (70) and her son Yunus Mirza (46) today continued the tradition of keeping the lights on.
“During locking, we face difficulties but ensuring that Diya never comes out,” Zeenat Bibi said.
Similar is the hope that was placed on Vaishanaava ‘Goswami Haveli’ where it was’ sought after.
Legend said that Goswami Raghunathji built Haveli Temple to accommodate Natwarprabhu idol 227 years ago.
Then, his eldest son, Goswami Shree Gopinathji, installed lights for important rituals.
He reached ‘Amrutsanjivini’ and the lights save vermilion instead of carbon black.
That year, the gatherings were held in which seven people died in the raid.
Legend said that the miracle brought to seven back to life.
“Since then, ‘Dipakji’ earned more reception throughout the caste and community,” said Rev.
Temple of Goswami Ranchhodlalangi ‘Abharan Baba’.
In ‘Hasti Aunt No Ghoklo’, children and families get rid of sadness.
When a child is sick, parents are worried to bring a baby to a small residence in the Jain neighborhood that holds a humble or gokhlo temple (a small hole in the wall with the burning of ground lights) from Hasti Auntie.
“That’s the faith of the locals that even during locking, traders and residents ensured the lights had never run out of oil,” said Munjawar Mohammed Usman, 31.