Bithoor Ganapati Temple, located at Bithoor, a small town near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, situated on the banks of the Ganga River is a significant religious site dedicated to Lord Ganesh.
The Bithoor Ganapati Temple has a history spanning over 300 years. Revered as Lord Gajanan, the idol here is believed to fulfill the desires of all who visit with faith. The idol, the mouse, is depicted sitting on his vehicle, facing east towards the Ganges River. It has four hands, holding a noose (Pash), an elephant goad (Ankush), a bowl of Modaks (Lord Ganesh’s favourite sweet), and a broken tusk.
The temple complex has a Yajna Kund (a sacred fire pit), a Shami tree (considered auspicious for worship), and a Shvetark tree. These elements are believed to purify the devotees who visit and offer prayers. Footprints of Vasudevan and Saraswati are marked in the northern part of the temple, and there is also a Dattatreya Temple in the vicinity.
The temple’s history is steeped in legend. During the 1857 uprising, Nageshwar Baba, a freedom fighter from Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, sought refuge in Bithoor after escaping from the British. After meditating and consuming Durva juice, he spent 21 days chanting the Ganesh and Gayatri mantras. It is said that Lord Ganesh appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to uncover the buried idol of Ganesh. Upon following these divine instructions, Nageshwar Baba revealed the idol to the public, marking the temple as a place of divine grace and miracles.
Devotees who offer prayers with devotion and view the Lord in his sacred vermilion attire experience rapid blessings, such as health, purity, knowledge, companionship with good people, prosperity, good children, longevity, and even the attainment of mystical powers.
Ganesh Chaturthi, particularly Angarki Chaturthi, is a grand occasion at the temple. On this day, devotees gather to offer prayers and worship Lord Ganesh with Durva, Shami leaves, flowers, Modaks, laddus, jaggery, and bananas. It is believed that by doing so, Lord Ganesh blesses them with prosperity, well-being, and the removal of obstacles in their lives.
The temple also celebrates Ganesh’s birth with great joy and festivities. Another major celebration is the Deepotsav (Festival of Lights) during the month of Kartik, a time when the temple is beautifully illuminated and filled with devotional fervour.
