Umerkote: The nine-day journey of Maa Jagatjanani Thakurani, which began on Monday, concludes today. Maa Jagatjanani had come from her in-laws’ house to her parental home for nine days. After arriving on Monday and resting on Tuesday, she began visiting homes throughout the town for puja starting Wednesday.
This journey is associated with Chaitra Pratipada, marking the beginning of Chaitra Basanti Navaratri. The journey, also known as the Kalasha Yatra, begins on the first Monday following Chaitra Pratipada. This age-old tradition has been followed in Umerkote of Nabarangpur district for generations.
During the nine-day yatra, nine sacred pots (kalashas), one flower-decorated basket (changudi), and the ceremonial palanquin (viman) travel through the town. After Maa Jagatjanani is ceremonially mounted, the journey starts with a visit to the main priest Bhuban Pujari’s home in Bhitargada, where she is offered the first bhog (offering). Then the town-wide procession begins.
Today, Tuesday, Maa Jagatjanani has returned to her in-laws’ home. During this final ritual, all the kalashas were placed in a sacred swing (kanta doli) for worship. After invoking the goddess through rituals, the priests took her with traditional music and instruments to the Mangala Temple on Jharigaon Road, which is symbolically her in-laws’ home.
The return ceremony included priest Bhubaneswar Pujari, along with committee president Sainarayan Padhi, vice president, treasurer Gobinda Majhi, secretary Satyanarayan Mishra, and vice-president Ashish Rao, along with all committee members, villagers of Barapali, priests from Shira, and members of the old committee.