Bhawan...
Preparing for Darshans
Most
pilgrims prefer to take a bath before proceeding for Darshans.
In the olden days pilgrims used to take a bath at the Bathing
Ghat, with the water that flows from the feet of Mata. With
the passage of time, and particularly after the vesting
of the management in the Shrine Board, new Bathing ghats
and many toilets and bathrooms have been constructed. Attempts
have been made to channelise the water from the Holy Cave
to all these new Bathing areas, so that irrespective of
where the pilgrim takes a bath, he receives the cleansing
effect of the Holy Water. The traditional Bathing ghats
have also been enlarged and developed and notwithstanding
many constructions, many pilgrims would still like to take
a bath at the original ghats.
Pilgrims are required to deposit all their belonging in
the free cloakrooms, as nothing except cash and selected
offerings (please read the section on Bhaints) are allowed
inside the Holy Cave. All articles of general use like belts,
wrist watches with leather belts, combs, pen, pencil, purses,
handbags, etc. are prohibited. For the convenience of the
yatries, Shrine Board has organized free cloak room facilities
at many points in the Bhawan complex. In particular, a shoes/bags
cloak room has been made operational just outside Gate No.1
which is the entrance to the queue complex. This cloak room
can be used for depositing all leather and other goods which
are prohibited inside the Holy Cave.
No sweets are allowed either. After taking a bath at the
Bathing Ghat or elsewhere, pilgrims can reach Gate No.1
where upon announcement (and/or display on the display board)
of the group number, they are allowed inside the queue which
would lead them eventually to one of the greatest moments
of their lives, a Darshan of the Divine Mother inside the
Holy Cave in the natural rock form i.e. the Holy Pindies.
