Bansgaon Durga Temple

A unique Durga temple resides in Bansgaon, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Here, devotees offer blood to appease the goddess. This tradition has been observed for hundreds of years and continues today. Devotees visit the temple throughout the year, with a surge during Navratri when a special blood offering takes place. People from across the globe travel here to witness and participate in this custom on Navami, the ninth day of Navratri. Additionally, devotees bring their newborn children to the temple for a similar blood offering ceremony.

This centuries-old tradition of offering blood to Maa Durga at the Durga Mandir in Bansgaon Tehsil, Gorakhpur, has been practiced for the last 300 years by the Shrinet clan of Kshatriyas. The ritual involves offering blood from a single incision on the forehead of newborns aged 12 days old to 100-year-olds. Before a boy undergoes his thread ceremony, only one incision is made. However, after the ceremony, blood is drawn from nine different points on the bodies of young men, middle-aged adults, and elderly individuals, all using the same razor. The collected blood is offered in Belva leaves at Maa Durga's feet, and the wound is dressed with Bhabhut (sacred ash).

The Durga temple boasts beautiful Nagara-style architecture. The entire structure is built on a vast platform in a square shape. There is a designated entrance for devotees to have darshan (holy viewing) of the mother. In 2021, the temple underwent renovations, which included the construction of a Dharamshala (rest house) for visiting devotees.

A strong belief is associated with this Maa Durga temple: newborns whose blood is offered from their forehead are said to receive special blessings from Maa Durga. Devotees claim that due to the mother's blessings, there have been no reported cases of tetanus or scarring after the wound heals.

At this Maa Durga temple, devotees offer various items to the goddess, including coconuts, chunris (long scarves or shawls), and blood. The belief is that offering blood pleases Maa Durga and grants desired blessings.