Today’s third Durga is Taaljai Mata on Tikona Fort. This fort is located in the Kolwan valley of Mulshi taluka.
It is the fort that guards the pass of Pavan Maval.
The deity on this fort is Taaljai Devi, whose idol is in the shape of a rice grain and is very enchanting.
the Navadurga (Nine Durga Goddesses) from Mulshi Taluka. The second Durga for today is Korai Devi on Korai Fort. Korai Fort is located in Kore Barasaya Mawal of Mulshi Taluka. On this fort is the famous Chaturbhuj (four-armed) idol of Goddess Korai, which is extremely captivating. There is a legend that in 1818, when the British captured this fort, they took all the jewelry from the goddess’s idol, and later, they placed it on the idol of Mumbadevi in Mumbai. The temple on the fort has been renovated, and during the Navaratri festival, people from the surrounding areas visit for darshan (viewing the deity).
The culture of sacred groves has been practiced since the Vedic era. This concept is deeply rooted in faith, where reverence and fear of the divine have been effectively utilized for the protection and conservation of forests.