Kishalaya

More than 150 people died and more than 300 injured in the Stampede at Mata Naina Devi temple.

News agencies report a large number of pilgrims had gathered at the temple, 160 km from state capital Shimla, to offer prayers when the railing on way to the sanctum sanctorum gave way, resulting in stampede. Also rumors of a portion of the mountain slope coming down is believed to have triggered the stampede as pilgrims coming down the temple created panic as they ran down taking those going up by surprise. Most of the victims are reported to be from the adjoining areas of Punjab and Chandigarh.

This is the first ever incident of stampede in the hill state known to be home to several Shaktisthals as per the Hindu mythology.

50,000 worshipers were expected daily during the 10-day Sharavan Ashtami fair, but many more had turned up on Sunday at Naina Devi Temple.

Naina Devi Temple is situated in the beautiful hills of Bilaspur District. According to legend, Lord Shiva’s consort Sati once burnt herself alive in Yagna to avenge an insult to Lord Shiva. The distraught Shiva picked
her corpse and gyrated his horrified dance. Then Lord Vishnu unleashed his Chakra and cut the Sati’s body into fifty one pieces to save the earth from Shiva’s wrath.All the fifty one places - where parts of Sati’s body fell, became known as Shakti Peeths It is believed that Sati’s eyes fell at the place  where this temple is situated. Therefore, this temple is called Naina Devi. The word Naina is synonymous with Sati’s eyes.
Since then, devotees started visiting the Naina Devi temple.

For more details about the temple visit http://www.nainadevi.com