Poor AQI & haze block out Kirnotsav sun rays at Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur

Kolhapur: For the first time in 25 years, sun rays did not enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahalakshmi temple even once during the five-day Kirnotsav (festival of light) in Kolhapur. Experts and researchers said an air quality index of above 150 and poor weather conditions obstructed the rays, disappointing devotees.Kirnotsav is a phenomenon observed twice every year — between Jan 29 and Feb 2 during the Uttarayan, and between Nov 8 and 12 during the Dakshinayan — when the setting rays of the sun reach the feet of the idol on the first two days, the waist on the third day, and cover the entire idol on the fourth and fifth days.Prof Milind Karanjkar, who heads the Physics department at the Vivekananda College and has been involved in the study of the Kirnotsav phenomenon for the past several years, said, "During this five-day festival, the rays of the setting sun could not even reach the feet of the goddess. For the rays to reach the temple, their capacity needs to be of 18,000lux on the Mahavdar Road. This year, it was only 6,000-7,000 lux. On Sunday (Feb 1), the capacity of these rays was 13,000lux, and on that day the rays reached the silver entrance (chandicha umbra) of the temple."Karanjkar said the intensity of the rays had decreased due to the impact of cold, climate change and pollution. "This year, the cold period was prolonged. Clouds, fog, and dust reduced the intensity of the sunlight. Due to this, the Kirnotsav remained incomplete," he added.Secretary with Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti (PMDS) Shivraj Naikwade said, "The air quality index in Kolhapur has been between 130 and 150. Traffic has increased, trash burning hasa increased, and this has resulted in large-scale air pollution. The weather also remained partly cloudy, resulting in disruption in Kirnotsav."Meanwhile, a few devotees blamed the ongoing construction of the Garud mandap and the location of the pillars for the rays not entering the temple.In the past few years, PMDS and the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation have removed many obstacles and encroachments on the Kirnotsav route. To ease access for devotees, the entire Kirnotsav is live-streamed. The darshan queue in the temple is also halted for around 15 minutes on the five days to allow the sun rays to reach the sanctum sanctorum.