600-Year-Old Khaira Bhawani Temple: A Mughal-Era Heritage in Gonda

• The Khaira Bhawani Temple, located in Khaira village, Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh, is an ancient religious site established 500-600 years ago during the Mughal rule.
• The temple is a significant center of faith, attracting devotees from far and wide, especially during Navratri and other religious occasions.
• According to Mahant Kailash Narayan Giri, the temple has a rich history, including a miraculous incident 150 years ago where a railway line could not be built through the site due to divine intervention.
• The temple is named Khaira Bhawani because the Mother Goddess manifested under a Khair tree in what was once a forest of Khair trees.
• Established by Mahant Bhagwan Giri, the land for the temple was donated by the then Nawab of Awadh, Asaf-ud-Daula, to Giri's ancestors, who were zamindars.

Why It Matters: The 600-year-old Khaira Bhawani Temple in Gonda is a significant historical and religious site with a rich past.