Aradi, Jan, 19: On the occasion of the English New Year, a massive crowd of devotees gathered from early morning at the famous Shaivite shrine of Aradi in Bhadrak district to seek blessings along with friends and family members.
From 4 a.m. onwards, a heavy rush of devotees was witnessed at the temple of Baba Akhandalamani. Keeping the large crowd in view, the temple doors were opened at 4 a.m., followed by the Mangala Aarti, Mahasnana (ritual bathing), and Jalabhishek (water offering with sacred friction rites). After the completion of these rituals, the deity was adorned with new clothes, flowers and sandalwood paste and decorated in Digambara attire.
Special rituals including Gharshana Bhaga, Chalya Bhaga and Bhada Anuniti Bhaga were also performed. For the convenience of devotees, Sahana Mela (general public darshan) was allowed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. for darshan and worship.
On the other hand, elaborate security arrangements were made inside and outside the temple for smooth and disciplined darshan. Special barricading arrangements and extensive police deployment were put in place.
Similarly, to ensure smooth movement of devotees by road and water routes, traffic police, fire services and additional forces were deployed. To avoid congestion on the Bhadrak–Akhandalamani main road, all four-wheeler vehicles were diverted to the shrine via the Kuleipada–Aradi road.
At the temple premises, Dhamnagar SDPO Trilochan Sethi, Dhusuri Police Station IIC Ajay Sudarshan Baghe, and Aoudi Outpost Officer Pradeep Nayak remained alert to control the crowd.
Chandabali Tahsildar Bhalatosh Maltiz and Temple Administrator Bidyadhar Palai supervised the darshan arrangements and rituals.
Along with them, NSS volunteers of Palasahi Babamani Degree College, under the leadership of NSS Officer Vijay Kumar, assisted devotees in orderly darshan and also carried out cleanliness drives.
According to the temple schedule, after completion of the morning rituals by 2 p.m., the deity was adorned in Yogi Besha (ascetic attire) and offered the grand Anuniti Bhog, followed by one hour of Shasana (Achalabas) ritual.
Later, at 4 p.m., the Lord was decorated in Badasinghar Besha, after which Sahana Mela was again opened for devotees’ darshan.