Khajrana Ganesh Temple

Khajrana, Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Famous temples

About

Khajrana Ganesh temple is the shrine that the people of Indore hold closest to their hearts. Ganesh ji's main murti here is formed of sindoor, and its eyes are set with diamonds given by a devotee from Indore. Devotees walk around the temple and tie a sacred thread, praying that their work goes well. By a popular custom, devotees draw an upside-down swastik behind the shrine while making a wish, and come back to draw it the right way up when they give thanks. Wednesdays and Chaturthi are special days. The complex also has shrines of Maa Durga, Mahakaleshwar, Lakshmi ji, Hanuman ji, Shani dev and Sai Baba.

The story

The story of Khajrana begins in troubled times, when the old murti of Ganesh ji was hidden in a well to keep it safe. Later, it is said, a local priest, Pandit Mangal Bhatt, saw the murti in a dream. It was taken out of the well, and Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of the Holkar dynasty had a temple built for it in the 18th century. The Bhatt family has worshipped Ganesh ji ever since. For a long time this was a small, simple shrine, little more than a hut. Year after year, the faith of the people of Indore turned it into a large temple complex. The gate of the sanctum and its outer and upper walls are made of silver, carved with different moods and festivals. On Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh ji is grandly adorned, and during Ganeshotsav lakhs of devotees come for darshan. Today the temple is managed under the district administration, while the Bhatt family carries on the worship.

Visiting

October to March is pleasant; Wednesdays, Chaturthi and Ganeshotsav are very crowded. Devotees usually offer laddoos and modak. In Indore you can also see Rajwada, Lalbagh Palace and the Annapurna temple, and Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is close by.