Sanjay Kumar Pandey Palamu: The renowned Ketar Temple in Garhwa district, part of Palamu division in Jharkhand, boasts a rich and intriguing history. It is said that three hundred years ago, both the king of Sonpur State and a local named Jeevanath Baiga had a divine dream on the same night, accompanied by a loud rumbling sound throughout the area. The next morning, the king, along with his soldiers and Jeevanath Baiga, reached Mahisghat with great fanfare. Upon excavating the site, they discovered two idols. The first idol could not be lifted by anyone, but with the help of 32 men and an elephant, the second idol, a black one, was placed on a palanquin. After being set down in seven places, the elephant halted at a leopard tree and refused to move, and so did the idol. Despite the king’s best efforts, the idol remained immovable. Eventually, the king and the local priest began worshipping the idol.
The temple gained prominence when Ramswaroop Singh, also known as Jokhu Singh, from Bhawnathpur, prayed to the goddess for a child and was blessed with a son. This inspired Madusudan Poddar and Dayashankar Mishra from Bokaro Steel Mines to visit the temple and start a fundraising campaign for its renovation, with support from local villagers. The first meeting for the temple’s renovation committee was held on March 11, 1987, chaired by Ramcharitra Pathak. Key members included General Secretary Madusudan Poddar, President Ramcharitra Pathak, Vice President Dr. Okarnath Sharma, and Information Minister and journalist Sitaram Pathak.
The renovation work began on May 2, 1997. The main gate and symbolic Gomaz were completed on February 19, 1988, and the temple was named Mata Charubhuj Kali Temple. On May 6, 1990, Ramcharitra Pathak brought a statue of Lord Shiva from Banaras and installed it with the chanting of mantras by Acharya Vijayanand and Devaraj Gautam. In 2003, former minister Ramchandra Keshri donated a statue of Durga, and in 2005-06, former minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi contributed towards the construction of a traveler’s lodge and the main gate through the tourism department. The temple continues to grow and evolve with these contributions. The temple’s three unique features are: Popularity: Surrounded by hills, the temple’s scenic location attracts visitors. It is accessible by road from three states: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, making it a popular pilgrimage site.
Faith: According to the priests, devotees who come to the temple seeking blessings for a child with unwavering faith are granted their wishes by the goddess. Special Events During Navratri: During Navratri, the temple hosts special events, including Durga Puja, devotional songs, and Bhagwat Katha. The temple management committee oversees the organization and financial matters, with support from government officials, public representatives, and local villagers. The temple is located 26 kilometers from Nagar Untari and is easily accessible by road, making it a convenient destination for devotees from nearby regions.
