Photo credit: Tushar Kirtikar

Post pandemic, the rollercoaster world of Bollywood has discovered yet another fabulous actor who has been making a niche for himself slowly and steadily in the Hindi Film Industry for over two decades – Manoj Joshi. An amazing actor who has played varied characters including Amit Shah in PM Narendra Modi to Manavit G Bajaj in Hungama 2, the Gujarat born Manoj Joshi was recently spotted at the holy Mata Kankai Temple located in Virar.

He was invited by the Temple on the auspicious occasion of Navratri to get divine blessings of Mata Kankai Devi. They offered annakot, which is an offering of specially made dishes, which were laid out in front of the deity. 

For the unversed, the Kankai Mata temple is an important holy site for Hindu pilgrims. Situated deep in the heart of the Gir Forest – about 25 km from Sasan Gir – the Kankai Mata shrine is steeped in legend.  The Kankai Mataji Temple is, in fact, the only temple found in the vicinity of the forest.

Several devotees who reside in and around Mumbai cannot go often to Gujarat and they decided to build a temple in Virar. The devotes decided to contribute for the construction cost but eventually a local builder ‘Kanakia Space’ came ahead and built the temple at his own cost.

The temple is dedicated to Shri Kankeshwari Mataji or Shri Kankai Mataji who is supposed to be the Goddess or the savior of the shepherds roaming about in the Gir forest.

Incidentally, there is a Kankai temple safari, which is a trail that goes through the wild Sasan Gir National Park. There is a picturesque lake nearby which is the gathering spot of various wild animals – and lions can often be spotted near this temple.

Manoj, obviously, a devout believer offered prayers to the Goddess. We are sure with such a powerful divine intervention; the talented Manoj will shine even more.