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Jwalamukhi Mela
The Jwalamukhi Mela is held twice a year. This happens during the Navratri of Chaitra and Assiy. During this time, the devotees go round the 'Jwala Kund'. This is the sacred fire burns and they make their offerings during this Mela. Closeby is 'Gorakh Tibbi which is' a centre of the Gorakhpanthi Naths. During this mela, folk-dances, songs, plays, wrestling matches and athletics are held to attract people to the fair. The Jwalamukhi Temple in Kangra has become an important place of the fair.
During this time, the people come with red silken flags which are called as dhwaja. This is to greet the Mother Goddess, ‘JwalaJi’ and the fair is attributed to the worship of that Eternal Flame. This flame comes out of earth spontaneously and perpetually.
The temple of Jwalamukhi is in Jwalamukhi town is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India. This place is about 70 kilometers from Dharamsala. Jwalamukhi is a famous temple of Goddess Jwalamukhi. The deity is known as the deity of flaming mouth. This deity is believed to be the manifestation of the Goddess Sati and the building is modern. The building has a gilt dome and pinnacles. It also has a beautiful folding door of silver plates. The Devi appears in the form of nine different flames and the important one among them is supposed to be Mahakali. The other eight flames at different places in the temple represent various Goddesses. These include Annapurna, Chandi, Hing Laj, Vidhya Vasini, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Sarswati, Ambika and Anjana.
History of Jwalamukhi Temple
In the past, the temple affairs were guided and supervised by the state of Nadaun. In the year 1809, Maharaja Ranjit Singh visited the temple. He dyed his hand in saffron after which he stamped an agreement in the temple premises. This was done with Raja Sansar Chand who was the local ruler. after the Afghan war, Maharaja Ranjit Singh gilded the roof of the Jwalamukhi temple as a thanksgiving. His son Kharak Singh gifted to the temple a pair of silver-plated folding doors.
Jawalamukhi is a great pilgrimage centre. Here the Mughal Emperor Akbar once tried to extinguish the flames. This was done by covering them with an iron disk. This was also done by even channelizing water to them; however, the flames blasted all these efforts. After that, Akbar then presented a golden parasol for the temple shrine. There are many pilgrims who visit the shrine round the year to satisfy their spiritual urge.
Puja
At Jwalamukhi, the deity is offered Bhog of Rabri or thickened milk. They are also offered Misri or candy. Apart from that seasonal fruits, milk and arti is done. The puja has different 'phases'. The puja goes on the whole day and Arti is done five times in the day. There is a Havan which is done daily and portions of "Durga Saptasati" are recited.