Husband Constructs Temple in Memory of Deceased Wife in Madhya Pradesh
A Unique Tribute to Love and Loss
Losing a loved one can bring immense sorrow, leaving individuals feeling lost and unable to focus on daily tasks. While some manage to move on with time, others find it difficult to forget their grief. Many wish for a way to keep their loved ones close, even after death. Although we cannot change the reality of death, we can take steps to honor their memory and find peace.
In Shajapur district, Madhya Pradesh, a family has found a unique way to keep the memory of their beloved woman alive. After the passing of his wife, a husband constructed a temple in her honor, which has now become a topic of conversation in the region. Unlike typical temples dedicated to deities or celebrities, this husband built a temple featuring a three-foot statue of his wife.
This remarkable temple is located in Sankheda village, approximately three kilometers from the Shajapur district headquarters. The statue represents the late Geetabai Rathore, a member of the Banjara community. Her husband, Narayan Singh Rathore, along with other family members, worships the statue daily, treating it with the reverence typically reserved for deities. During auspicious occasions, they seek blessings from the statue, and before meals, offerings are made to both the deity and Geetabai's statue. Additionally, the family dresses the statue in new sarees regularly.
Geetabai passed away on April 27 due to complications from the second wave of COVID-19. Despite spending a fortune on her treatment, the family could not save her. Her son regarded her as more than just a mother, and her loss left him heartbroken. In his grief, he proposed the idea of building a temple in her memory to his father, who readily agreed to the plan.
On April 29, the family commissioned artists from Alwar to create Geetabai's statue. After about a month and a half, the statue was completed. Her son, Lucky, expressed that the statue felt alive, as if their mother was still with them. Once the statue arrived, priests were invited to perform the necessary rituals for its installation.
The sons believe that while their mother may not speak, she is always present with them. Each family member begins their day by offering prayers to her. This is not the first instance of individuals creating statues in memory of their deceased loved ones.