Karnapura Yatra will not be organised this year on Navratri festival due to the spread of Novel coronavirus.
After Independence, this is the third time that the Yatra was cancelled. It may be noted that Raja Karnasingh from Bikaner came to the city for staying in 1835. The Yatra was named after him as he constructed Devi’s Mandir. Since then, the Yatra is being organised in Navratri festival.
Around 10 lakh to 12 lakh devotees take ‘Darshan’of Devi every year. Nearly 700 traders from local and different parts of the country install their stalls. It records crores of rupees turnover. Before Independence, it was not much big.
With the increase in the city’s population, it has become one of the biggest Yatra in Marathwada today. This year, the administration decided to cancel due to COVID 19. “First time, it was cancelled in 1993 due to earth-quack at Killari-Latur and second time in 1994 because of plague in Surat-Gujarat,” said Karansingh Kakas, a social activist.
Poojari of the Mandir Santosh Danve said that in 1993, 1994, only Yatra was cancelled but Mandir was opened so that devotees can take darshan.
“First time, the Mandir will remain closed in Navratri Utsav. As per the directives of the administration, Ghatsthapana will be done on October 17 in presence of selected members of Danve family,” he added.