Mumbadevi to grace Byculla museum

After 2-year delay, BMC gives nod to installation of 45-inch brass statueu00a0at BDL museum during Chaitra Navratri

The BMC has finally given a go-ahead to install a replica of the city's reigning deity, Mumbadevi, at the Bhau Daji Lad (BDL) Museum in Byculla.
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The museum's director said the project got delayed as the museum was undergoing a renovation

The 45-inch-tall brass statue will be installed on ashtami, the eighth day of Chaitra Navratri, on April 11.

The trustees of the museum, in which the BMC is also a stakeholder, had sought permission to install a statue of the deity two years ago. The statue will be put up for public viewing from Monday.

Tasneem Mehta, managing trustee and director of the 154-year-old museum, said, "We will install the statue on April 11 in the presence of BMC officials."

Auspicious

She added that the trustees wanted the statue to be installed during Chaitra Navratri, which began on April 4 and will conclude onu00a0 April 12.
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"We had sent a proposal to the civic body nearly two years ago when Dr Shubha Raul was the mayor," said Mehta.

Asked why the BMC took two years to clear the proposal, she said, "The project got delayed because renovation was in progress at the museum."

The trustees, including Mayor Shraddha Jadhav, had assigned the work tou00a0 Laxmanand, an award-winning sculptor.

Mehta said, "Laxmanand, who has also been awarded by the President of India, comes from a family known for making temple statues. Before starting the work, he spent some time at the Mumbadevi temple to properly study the original statue."

Consultation

She added that the artists working on the statue used to visit the temple before the aarti at 4 am. "We had collected several photographs of the deity. After consulting a lot of experts, we decided to handover the work to Laxmanand and his team."

The 45-inch-tall brass statue will be installed on the first floor along with the statues of other deities.

Representative

She said, "The significance of the statue at the museum is because the deity is the city's goddess and has all the cultures imbibed in her, a characteristic is identical to the cosmopolitan Mumbai city."

Additional Municipal Commissioner Mohan Adtani said, "The statue is ready for installation and the entire work is done by the people looking after the museum."

Mayor Shraddha Jadhav said, "I will be having a look at the statue in a day or two and it is a very good thing that they have given prime importance to the goddess of Mumbai."

Chaitra Navratri
As per the Puranas and other Hindu scriptures, Chaitra Navratri is the actual Navratri during which Goddess Durga was worshipped. But Ram worshipped the deity in the month of Ashwin, before waging war on Lanka. Since then, Ashwin Navratri or Durga Navratri has become the main festival. Chaitra Navratri signifies the start of Hindu New Year.

The Legend
According to a popular legend, the structure of the temple is about six centuries old and it is believed to be the handiwork of Mumbaraka, a sadistic giant who used to plunder the city every now and then. Terrorised by his unwelcome visits, the locals pleaded with Brahma to protect them. Brahma then "pulled out of his own body", an eight-armed goddess who vanquished the Mumbaraka.
Brought to his knees, Mumbaraka implored the goddess to take his name and built a temple in her honour. She still stands there, an orange-faced goddess on an altar strewn with marigolds. Devotees believe that those who seek her divine favour are never disappointed.