An atmosphere of spirituality, devotional and religious fervour gripped Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi on Sunday, as Goddess Manikeswari, the reigning deity of the Western Odisha town, ventured out of her abode for the annual sojourn called ‘Chhatar Jatra’.
As per reports, the Bijay Pratima Chhatar of the deity was earlier taken out from the temple to Jenakhala on the outskirts of Bhawanipatna town. At around 5 am, the Chhatar was brought back to the temple in a large procession, amidst the beating of traditional drums like ‘Jena Badya’ and ‘Ghumura Badya’. Currently, the procession has covered around four kilometers and it is expected to reach the temple at around 12 pm.
The secret rituals were performed at Jenakhala during the night. Devotees whose wishes were fulfilled released pigeons over Chhatar as a symbol of peace and love. They also prayed to Goddess Manikeswari for peace and prosperity throughout the year.
Lakhs of devotees from Odisha and outside the state thronged Bhawanipatna to take part in the festival and seek blessings from Goddess Manikeswari to fulfill their wishes.
Elaborate security arrangement has been made to maintain law and order in the town. As many as 12 platoons of police forces have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the popular festival.
“We have total faith in Maa Manikeswari. She has come outside the temple to give darshan to her devotees once a year. We have totally surrendered ourselves before the Goddess. We are confident that she will take care of us and fulfill all our wishes,” said a devotee.