The Sacred Baishakhi Sankranti and the Divine Awakening of Maa Jogadya at Kshirgram
The Festival of Divine Emergence
Baishakhi Sankranti, marking the solar transition into the month of Baishakh, holds immense spiritual significance in Sanatan Dharma. It symbolizes new beginnings, fertility, and the awakening of divine energies. Among its many celebrations across India, the one held at Kshirgram’s Maa Jogadya Temple in Bardhaman district of West Bengal stands unique. Here, the Goddess—Maa Jogadya, revered as Patal Bhairavi, rises from her watery abode to bless the devotees.
Baishakhi Sankranti Festival 2026 at Kshirgram Maa Jogadya temple is on April 15.
According to the sacred tradition, the original idol of Maa Jogadya remains immersed in a pond, symbolizing her connection with the subterranean or Patal realm. On Baishakhi Sankranti, amidst the rhythmic beats of dols (drums) and the chanting of mantras, the ancient idol is ceremonially brought out from beneath the waters. Devotees throng the temple to witness this divine awakening and to offer their prayers before she is returned to her resting place by evening.
The Legend and Spiritual Symbolism
It is believed that after slaying the demon Mahiravana, Lord Hanuman discovered and brought the idol of the Goddess to Kshirgram. The Goddess, a fierce form of Mahishamardini Durga, is said to possess ten arms, symbolizing her cosmic power to destroy evil and protect dharma. Scriptures such as the Devi Mahatmya (Markandeya Purana, Chapter 5, Verse 16) declare:
“By you, O Devi, this universe is supported; by you it is created, and by you it is protected.”
This verse beautifully aligns with the essence of Maa Jogadya—protector, preserver, and destroyer of adharma.
The Sacred Utthan Ritual
The Maha Puja on Baishakh Sankranti is performed at the Utthan Temple, situated near the serene Kshirdighi. “Utthan,” meaning “rising,” represents the emergence of the Goddess from her meditative repose. At midnight, as devotees chant hymns from the Durga Saptashati, the idol is lifted from the pond with reverence. For a single day, the faithful are granted the sacred opportunity to offer pushpanjali (floral offerings) and arati to the ancient idol believed to be over 1,200 years old.
The Conch Bangles and the Bridal Grace
According to local belief, Uma (Parvati), the divine consort of Lord Shiva, once adorned conch bangles on the ghats of Kshirgram as a bride. In remembrance of this auspicious event, Maa Jogadya is decorated with conch bangles (shankha) during the festival, symbolizing divine marriage and the eternal union of Shakti and Shiva. The custom signifies purity, prosperity, and the continuity of creation—core principles of Hindu philosophy.
The Eternal Presence of the Goddess
Maa Jogadya’s presence under the waters represents the hidden yet ever-watchful aspect of the Divine Mother. Just as the Gita proclaims (Bhagavad Gita 7.6):
“Know that all beings have their source in Me; I am the origin and the dissolution of the entire universe.”
Thus, her emergence on Baishakh Sankranti is not merely a ritual—it is a profound reminder of the cyclical rhythm of life, death, and rebirth, and of the Goddess’s unbroken connection with her devotees.
In essence, the Baisakhi Sankranti at Kshirgram is not just a local celebration but a spiritual event reflecting the eternal truths of Sanatan Dharma—the victory of light over darkness, the emergence of divine consciousness, and the compassionate grace of the Mother who rises from the depths to bless her children.
On the fourth day of the month of Jyeshtha, the Goddess once again takes her place upon the earth.