Umiya Temple, Unjha

Umiya Mata Temple is the Temple of Goddess Umiya, the clan-deity or kuldevi of the Kadava Patidars. It is located in the center of Unjha, Mehsana district, Gujarat, India, where thousands of visitors visit every day.

Umiya Mata Temple
Umiya Mata Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMahesana
DeityUmiya Mata
Location
StateGujarat
CountryIndia
Shown within Gujarat
Umiya Temple, Unjha (India)
Geographic coordinates23°48′6.13″N 72°23′42.31″E
Website
http://www.maaumiya.com/

History

In November 2009, the temple celebrated its Silver jubilee. The temple was renovated from donations from wealthy industrialists and farmers. Large numbers of Kadava Patidars came to the pilgrimage, with tents and guesthouses being set up to shelter the masses. Then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi gave a speech at the beginning of the vegetarian sacrifice on his devotion to his own clan's kuldevi.[1]

Influence on Politics
mandir from Side view

The temple is an important destination for politicians to win the votes and support of the Kadava Patidar community. In 2016, the temple was visited by then Vice-President of the Indian National Congress party Rahul Gandhi, in order to win the Kadava Patidar vote bank.[2][3]

Umiya Dham in Ahmedabad

An Umiya Dham complex is being built by the Kadava Patidar community in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complex will have a temple, an NRI guest house, a convention hall, boys/girls hostel, senior citizen care facilities, medical facilities, recreation and sports facilities, and career and business development facilities. As of 2018, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was set to lay the foundation stone. This is because the Kadava Patidars had begun to be disgruntled with Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party after Gujarati politician Hardik Patel and his Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti organized the Patidar reservation agitation. The BJP sought to regain the votes of Kadava Patidars through this gesture from Prime Minister Modi.[4]

Umiya Maa Temples in United States

In 2013, an Umiya Mata temple was commissioned by the Kadva Patidar Samaj in Macon, Georgia. As of 2014, two more were coming up in New Jersey and Boston, Massachusetts.[5]

Umiya Mataji Sanstha Chicago Midwest (UMSCM) celebrates Holi festival in Joliet. More than 500 people joins to celebrate Holi every year. This festival signifies the victory of good over evil. This festival celebration is split into two events – Holika Dahan and color Holi. In Holika Dahan, wood and cow dungs are burned in a symbolic pyre to signify good defeating evil. The next morning, people gather in open space at the temple to take part in Rangwali Holi, where people put colored powders (gulal) and colored water, on each other in celebration of spring. At the temple in Chicago, snacks and dinner are served in the free event as children and families participate in this event. In addition, the devotees also pray, dance, and sing devotional songs.[6]

References
  1. Heidermann, Frank; Berger, Peter (2013). The Modern Anthropology of India: Ethnography, Themes and Theory. Taylor & Francis.
  2. "Mathadhish: Why Umiya Mataji Temple is politically significant?- News Nation". www.newsnation.in. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  3. "Rahul Gandhi visits Umiya Mata temple in Unjha ahead of rally". Zee News. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  4. Dec 28, Kapil Dave | TNN | Updated; 2018; Ist, 5:16. "PM likely to lay foundation stone of Umiya Dham | Ahmedabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 June 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. "Patels build Umiya Mata temple in United States - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  6. Writer, Staff. "Umiya Mataji Temple Chicago Celebrates Holi | News India Times". Retrieved 28 June 2019.
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