As a cold wave tightened its grip, temples across Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi reflected a deeply rooted tradition of devotion, with deities being adorned in warm clothing to shield them from the winter chill.
In major temples, including Siddheshwar Mandir, Ganesh Mandir, Ram Mandir, Peetambara Mata Mandir and Sai Baba Mandir, idols have been dressed in sweaters, shawls and woollen garments. Morning and evening rituals now feature blankets and warm wraps as part of the daily adornment, mirroring the seasonal changes in devotees’ own lives.
Religious scholar and city dharmacharya Pandit Hariom Pathak explained the spiritual basis of the practice. He said that in Sanatan tradition, emotion and faith form the core of worship. According to custom, from December 14, when the Sun enters Sagittarius, until Makar Sankranti, deities are offered warm clothing.
“Just as humans feel the cold, devotees believe that God does too. That is why warm baths, shawls, blankets and even arrangements like angithis are part of the ritual care,” he said. He also urged devotees to follow similar practices at home during winter, including avoiding cold-water baths for household deities.
Devotees visiting temples echoed the sentiment. Yogesh Raja, who came for darshan, said Bundelkhand experiences severe winters and that deities are believed to embody life. “As we wear jackets and sweaters, we offer shawls to the idols, believing that God also feels the cold,” he said.
Another devotee, Bina Singh, visiting Peetambara Mata temple, said the cold in Jhansi had intensified over the past two days. “Just as we are feeling the chill, Mata must be feeling it too. That is why she is being dressed in warm clothes,” she said.
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Published By:
Sahil Sinha
Published On:
Dec 15, 2025
