Lakhs of devotees, mostly those observing ‘Kartik Brata’, thronged Gopinath temple in Puri’s Sakhigopal on the auspicious occasion of ‘Anla Navami’ on Tuesday.
This is a once-in-a-year opportunity for the devotees to see and admire the ‘Odiani Besha’ of Goddess Radha and ‘Natabara Besha’ of Lord Krishna making them queue up at the temple from early in the morning.
The rituals of Anla Navami were performed by priests early in the morning following which the deities were offered ‘chhatua bhog’. The shrine is located at Sakhigopal, around 20 km from Puri town.
“We have come to see the Radha Pada today. My son had a fractured leg. I prayed to Goddess Radha and she healed my son’s leg. I have a lot of believe in Maa. I do not have anybody other than Goddess Radha,” said a devotee.
Another devotee from Puri said, “I am very happy to see Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna today. The arrangements at the temple are good. Everybody is getting darshan in the queue.”
Goddess Radha is decorated with various embellishments all around the year and her feet always remain concealed. However, on the auspicious day of Anla Nabami or Akshaya Navami, devotees get a chance to view her feet as she wears a typical costume in which her feet are exposed and hence the ritual is known as Radha Pada Darshan.
While the devotees will be allowed for Radha Pada Darshan, they won’t be allowed to touch it as per the administration’s order.