Back in the 18th century, the royal family got some highly decorative bejeweled costumes designed for the idols. There are five of these special costumes, each one costs a whopping Rs. 25 lac (42K USD). On auspicious occasions like Diwali, the idols are dressed in this glittering extravaganza.
We were told this story very fondly by the locals who had come to offer their prayers. Clearly, the temple and it’s legend was something the people of Jaipur held in high regard.
Through the devotees, we got to see the cross section of social life in Jaipur: traditional old families with the “purdah” clad women, to young modern families.