Baliguda: The biennial Yatra of the presiding deity Maa Patakhanda Thakurani of Baliguda region in Kandhamal district has begun. The temporary mandap at the Maa Barala Devi Temple located at Gandhi Chhak is now bustling with activities, with an increasing number of devotees visiting each day. Along with Maa Patakhanda, deities like Maa Kanaka Durga, Maa Dengasil, Maa Baraladevi, Maa Mahamaya, and Maa Dakshina Kali are also enshrined at the temporary site.
Hundreds of devotees gather daily during the morning and evening aarti. On Wednesday, the Bhartipada Puja Committee from Nuasahi visited the area. In the evening, after the aarti, a grand procession took place featuring tribal Dakula dance, Dulduli, Sahiyatra Medha, Aghori dance, and musical performances by Sankirtan groups. The procession started from the temporary mandap and passed through Gandhi Chhak, PWD office, Revenue Bungalow, Jagannath Temple, Trivedi Park Chhak, Market Chhak, Patakhanda Temple and Market, Hatpada Market, Patakhanda Sahi Chhak, Bus Stand road, Budaguda road chhak, Catholic Church chhak, and Nuasahi chhak, finally entering Bhartipada Sahi and reaching the temporary Puja Mandap there.
After reaching the mandap, rituals were performed in accordance with tradition. Many devotees, especially women, gathered to seek the blessings of the goddess. At the end of the rituals, Anna Prasad (sacred food offering) was distributed among the devotees.
This Yatra, which will continue for a month, will travel through various sahis (localities) of the town. On Thursdays, the deities will rest at the temporary mandap and give darshan (audience) to the devotees. On Friday, the ghata (sacred pot) of Maa will tour the Electric Sahi area. Plans are already underway for attractive medhas (decorative structures) in each area for the coming days. The construction of artistic mandaps and entrance arches is already captivating the devotees.
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