Theoor is quite nearby to Ranjangaon. In an hour, we had reached the Chintamani Ganapati temple.
The morning rays kissed away the night chill leaving the air fresh, cool and sharp. It was invigorating enough to drive away the sleep from our eyes.
Like most other Ashtavinayak temples, the main temple resides within a walled courtyard. There is counter to remove footwear for safekeeping just inside the entrance. But footwear needs to be removed and kept within big plastic bags provided by the facility. If you are alone or in less numbers then you may need to club your footwear with others' into a single bag. If that happens then stay with that group. So that you get your footwear at the same time that the main group takes the bag from the counter.
The usual queue winds its way through a wooden roofed open hall, the carved wooden columns of which hold a framed photo of each of the 8 Ashtavinayak Ganapatis. The hall leads to a prayer chamber with direct access to the Gaabhara. Just like Mahad's Varadavinayak, we are allowed to take a close and satisfactory Darshan of the Bappa. Most religious places are so crowded and one is so rushed and bullied around by the throngs and the queues and the security, that one hardly gets any opportunity to pray. Here we were at least afforded the luxury of waiting for a second or two close to the Bappa, staring Him in the eyes and sending our prayers His way.
Of all the 8 Ashtavinayaks, Chintamani Ganapati of Theoor is my personal favourite. Ditto for my Missus. The better half says, He looks so cute and lovable. I feel all my chintas (worries) dissipate when I Iook at His gentle eyes and graceful form.
There is a public toilet off to one side. Since it is located within the courtyard, you will have to go there barefoot. But this one was much cleaner than its counterparts in the precious mandirs.
By 9:00 we set off for the next stop - Siddhatek
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