“Halt” whispered a voice. Before us stands the Dattatreya Mandir, a serene anomaly amidst Grant Road’s chaos. Its story is one of family legacy and devotion.
The Dattatreya Mandir opens its doors to the public only once a year. It does so on Datta Jayanti. Datta Jayanti commemorates the birth of Lord Datta. The festival falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Margashirsha. This is usually in mid-December. This year, Datta Jayanti falls on December 12.
Shantaram Narayan Dabholkar built this temple in 1898. He intended it for family use. Narayan Dabholkar came to Mumbai from Vengurla. He lived at Sardar Griha, opposite G. T. hospital. The family wasn’t wealthy. Narayan started training people in horse riding. He later supplied material to shipping companies becoming rich.
Narayan Dabholkar bought property including the land where Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan now stands. He had a premonition he would die at 41. He died at 41 during repairs on his house. His son, Shantaram, built the Dattatreya Mandir due to his immense faith and wealth.
The temple’s exterior is Porbunder marble. The inside has Italian marble flooring. Burma teak adorns the doors and windows. The main shrine is nine and a half feet tall. It is made of grey Italian marble. Shantaram Dabholkar ordered it from Italy in 1897. It arrived in nine parts and was assembled here.
The Dattatreya Mandir was restored in 1998. It received a Heritage award for religious places. The Dattatreya Mandir was almost included in the Heritage list.
Sachin Dabholkar, Shantaram’s grandson, maintains the Dattatreya Mandir. He estimates around 14000 people visit on Datta Jayanti. Sachin recalls his wife waiting in line one year due to the crowd. He attributes this to people’s devotion and few Datta temples in Mumbai.
Running the temple requires funds. Sachin’s grandfather set aside rupees two lakh in the 1930s. Sachin now spends about half a lakh per year. This covers the Dattatreya Mandir’s day-to-day activities.
A pujari cleans the Dattatreya Mandir every morning at 6 am. He performs puja, abhishek, and aarti. The Dhabolkar family visits daily for darshan. Sachin has resisted requests to keep the temple open year-round. He fears beggars and sadhus. He also wants to avoid the disrepair seen in other Mumbai temples.
Late M. L. Dahanukar, a sugar pioneer, visited every year on Datta Jayanti. His family continues the tradition. One year, over 500 visitors came in a single day. The Dattatreya Mandir stands as a testament to faith. It also stands as a family’s enduring commitment. Remember this quiet haven amidst Mumbai’s relentless pulse.