The Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple

The Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple in Jaipur is an important religious centre. This temple houses a massive statue of Ganeshji with the right trunk. It is vermilion-decorated and has a beautiful ornamentation. The temple is so popular that over one lakh devotees visit it on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Table of contents
History of temple
Festivals at Moti Dungri Ganesh temple
How is the architecture of Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple different?
Best time to visit Moti Dungri Ganesh temple
Different beliefs related to the temple
Special bhog offered during festivals at Moti Dungri Ganesh temple 

History of Moti Dungri temple

According to historians, the Ganesh statue erected here was transported from Mawali, the maternal house of Jaipur's queen, monarch Madho Singh I, in 1761. At the moment, the idol was 500 years old. Nagar Seth Paliwal of Jaipur brought this idol, and this temple was built at the base of Moti Dungri under his supervision.

The Moti Dungri temple is located at the bottom of the Moti Dungri hill and fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The trunk of the sindoor-coloured Ganesha emblem points rightward. Devotees offer ladoo sweets; at least 1.25 lakh devotees pay their respects to Ganesha each year. Every Wednesday, a fair is held at the temple compound.

There is a lingam (symbol of the god Shiva) in the Moti Dungri Fort premises, which is open to visitors once a year during Mahashivratri, the Shiva festival. The Birla Mandir shrine, devoted to the deities Lakshmi Narayan, is located south of the Ganesha Temple. 

Festivals at Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple

Ganesh Chathurthi: The Moti Dungri Ganeshji Temple is a popular place to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. During the festival, the temple have a huge display of laddus, a traditional offering to Ganesha. The show included two laddus weighing 251 kilos and two weighing 200 kilograms. The laddus were prepared using a variety of components, including flour, sugar, and nuts. They were presented to Ganesha by people from all throughout the city.
Annakoot: This festival is observed by presenting food to Lord Ganesha. The temple is decked with flowers and lights, and devotees present various meals to the deity.
Janmashtami: This festival marks Lord Krishna's birth and is celebrated with great zeal in temples. Paush Bada: This festival is observed by presenting moong dal ladoos to Lord Ganesha. The temple is decked with flowers and lights, and worshipers present these laddus to the deity. Mahashivratri: On this day, the temple complex is open to visitors, and devotees can see the lingam (the symbol of Lord Shiva) in the Moti Dungri Fort complex.

How is the architecture of Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple different?

The Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple is unique because of its blend of architectural styles and features. Some of the key architectural features that make it stand out include:
Nagara style: The temple is built in the Nagara style, which is a traditional Indian architectural style that uses curved arches and domes.
Scottish castle model: The temple is built on the model of a Scottish castle, a rare architectural feature in Indian temples.
Three domes: The temple has three domes, which symbolise the three main religions of India: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.
Lattice work and marble carvings: The temple has intricate lattice work and marble carvings depicting mythological characters and scenes.
Stone carvings: The walls of the temple are decorated with fine and detailed stone carvings.
Exquisite marble work: The temple has exquisite marble work, including engravings of mythological images.
Unique blend of Indian, Western, and Islamic features: The architecture of the temple combines elements of Indian, Western, and Islamic styles, making it a unique blend of architectural influences.

Best time to visit Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple

The best time to visit Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple in Jaipur is from October to March. The weather remains pleasant during this period, making it ideal for sightseeing and spiritual activities. The temple is open from 5:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Different beliefs related to the temple

Long lines are formed for worshipping motor vehicles.
The Ganesh temple at Moti Dungri, Jaipur, is considered the city's first deity. It is said that if a person buys a new motor vehicle, they must first bring it to the Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple. Long queues gather here for worshipping automobiles on significant holidays such as Navratri, Ramnavami, Dussehra, Dhanteras, and Diwali. It is said that bringing a new vehicle here and adoring it prevents the vehicle from being involved in an accident.
Devotees arrive for offering wedding invitations.
Aside from that, the first invitation card is traditionally presented at the time of marriage in the Moti Dungri Ganesh temple. It is claimed that Moti Dungri Ganesh visits their home on invitation and performs all of the marital ceremonies auspiciously. In such a case, people from all around Jaipur come to this temple to give wedding invites.
Applying Mehendi here leads to an early marriage.
On Tuesday, the temple celebrated Mehndi Poojan and Sinjara Utsav. This required 3100 kg of Mehendi from Sojat. After applying Mehendi to Lord Shri Ganesh Ji, it was distributed to devotees beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thousands of people came to the shrine in significant numbers to receive this Mehendi. This Mehendi is said to be particularly auspicious. Unmarried boys and girls use this Mehendi to ensure that they marry soon.

Bhog offered to Lord Ganesha at Moti Dungri Temple.
Special bhogs are offered during festivals at Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple.
Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple offers special bhogs during festivals. The temple holds numerous festivals throughout the year, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishna Janmashtami, Annakoot, and Paush Bada. During these occasions, devotees present modakas (laddoos) to Lord Ganesha, which are considered auspicious prasad. The temple also organises Lord Ganesha processions with various tables and decorations, and devotees help with the festive preparations and pay their devotion to Lord Ganesha.