COVID casts shadow on festivals in Odisha
2 min read By Express News Service
BERHAMPUR: Resting all speculations to ease, the Ganjam district administration on Sunday allowed conduct of the biennial historic Budhi Thakurani Yatra for every week whereas adhering to Covid norms.
At a gathering attended by Berhampur Municipal Corporation commissioner Sidheswar Baliram Bondar, Sub-Collector V Kirti Vasan, Berhampur legislator Bikram Panda and chief organiser P Durga Prasad Desibehera, it was determined to permit conduct of the yatra for every week.
Desibehera stated he agreed in-principle to the proposal of the civic physique to rejoice the competition for every week as per norms.
The holy mast for the yatra will probably be erected on Monday. The competition will probably be held within the first week of April and the dates will probably be introduced quickly.
The administration additionally allowed conduct of ‘Ghata Parikrama’ of Budhi Thakurani as per Covid tips. However, the occasion will probably be restricted to a couple locations this 12 months.
Budhi Thakurani is taken into account the presiding deity of the Silk City. A lot of devotees go to the goddess’ shrine.
The most essential ritual of the yatra entails taking out the deity on the streets so that folks can supply worship at their doorsteps. However, the ritual won’t be carried out this 12 months.
“We have requested yatra organisers not to allow people to wash the feet of the goddess or touch them,” stated Panda.
Chadak Mela sans devotees, fanfare this 12 months
The 13-day Chadak Mela, a serious non secular occasion of the district, will probably be celebrated sans devotees and the standard fanfare this 12 months.
Only rituals will probably be allowed on the Shiva temple at Chandaneswar the place hundreds of devotees from throughout the district and State congregate yearly for the occasion.
A gathering of the district administration and temple belief was held on this regard on Sunday.
Temple belief board chairman Ananta Das stated owing to the pandemic and the security of servitors, devotees and officers, it was determined to not permit devotees to the honest this 12 months. “The servitors will conduct the rituals at the temple as per Covid norms,” he stated.
The occasion is widely known within the first week of April in two phases – Nila Parva and Pata Parva. As per legend, Lord Chandaneswar had secretly married Kamini within the absence of his spouse Parvati through the month of Chaitra. Nila Parva was held to rejoice the wedding.
During Pata Parva, devotees get their pores and skin, tongue and different components of the physique pierced with nails and transfer round in a procession.
