Thousands Throng To Maa Tara Tarini Shrine As Chaitra Jatra Festivities Begin

Berhampur: The annual festivities of Ganjam’s presiding deity Maa Tara Tarini – the Chaitra Parba began today with much pomp and gaiety. Today is the first Tuesday of Chaitra month and the Maa Tara Tarini Shirine on the Ratnagiri hills in Ganjam district is decked up to celebrate the most revered annual Chaitra Jatra. Thousands of people arrived at the hill shrine and queues were seen from the morning itself. There is a belief that having darshan of Maa Tara Tarini during the Chaitra Jatra is most auspicious. There will be five Tuesdays this year in the Chaitra month.
Keeping in view the rush of pilgrims, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements and facilities. Various facilities such as transportation, rest place, drinking water, place for tonsuring, lighting, traffic management etc., have been provided. Special arrangements have been made for parking of vehicles at three places. First aid centers and fire services teams have also been deployed at the temple. City buses have also been arranged to transport the devotees from various places including Berhampur.

The Chaitra festival is the most important of the many festivals celebrated at the Tara Tarini temple. Puja and offerings by the devotees are done to the Chalanti Pratima of deities placed at the Bije Pitha for the Bije Pratima. The Temple is one of the oldest Shakti Pithas of India and it has been transformed into a world class pilgrim center under the aegis of 5T Initiatives. The development has taken place keeping in view the Odisha style of architecture. Also, the transformation has created a much improved spiritual ambience and spacious surroundings for the devotees to pray the Goddess.