Bhabanipatana: The renowned Chhatar Yatra celebrating Goddess Manikeswari, the patron deity of Kalahandi district, wrapped up with great religious enthusiasm on Monday, attracting hundreds of thousands of worshippers from Odisha and surrounding regions.
Unfortunately, the ceremonial Chhatar, or mobile idol of the goddess, returned to the temple earlier than anticipated, leaving many devotees disheartened as they were unable to witness the darshan.
Following secret rites conducted within the sanctum sanctorum around midnight, the Chhatar was transported to Jenakhal, located on the outskirts of the town.
After the Sandhi Puja, the procession set off on its return journey at 5 am, arriving at the temple by 7:45 am.
The streets echoed with traditional music, including Ghumura, Nishan, bells, gongs, conches, and drums as the procession proceeded through the town.
Kalahandi Prince Advait Pratap Deo prayed before the Chhatar and accompanied it into the temple.
Typically, the procession arrives at the temple around noon; however, this year’s earlier return sparked frustration among devotees, many of whom had traveled significant distances.
Bhakta Charan Das, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, also expressed his dissatisfaction at missing the darshan.
“The goddess usually arrives amid huge crowds, and the procession does not move at such a fast pace. The administration made a mistake this time, leaving many people unable to witness the ceremonial Chhatar,”
he stated.
The annual festival included traditional customs, such as animal and bird sacrifices, despite ongoing awareness initiatives by the district administration and various organizations opposing the practice.
Reports indicated that thousands of animals and birds were sacrificed, leaving the 3km stretch between Jenakhal and the temple stained with blood.
Local performers in vibrant attire entertained attendees, with 35 cultural groups showcasing their talents during the festivities.
Kalahandi Collector Pawar Sachin Prakash and Superintendent of Police Nagaraj Devarakonda oversaw the arrangements, with Bhabanipatana MLA Sagar Charan Das and Lanjigada MLA also present at the event.
To ensure safety, police deployed 15 platoons of personnel, which included three additional superintendents of police, nine deputy superintendents of police, 20 inspectors-in-charge, 32 sub-inspectors, 47 assistant sub-inspectors, and 103 constables and home guards.
The Bhabanipatana Municipality utilized 25 CCTV cameras and drones to monitor the procession route.
Despite the comprehensive security measures, traffic management posed difficulties at several points.
