Two-day Joranda Mela kicks off today

Joranda: World famous Magha Mela, also known as Joranda mela, would begin at Joranda in Dhenkanal district today.

The two-day Mela every year draws lakhs of devotees from far flung areas across the State. At the biggest event of the Mahima sect, devotees from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country would congregate to pay obeisance at the temple.

"We have made special arrangements for Mahima saints and devotees. Besides, the district administration is also helping us," a saint of the temple said.

The mela is organised every year by the sect since 1876 after the demise of its founder Mahima Swami. Followers of the sect as well as general public gather here in large numbers for the annual event.

After the death of Swami, his followers built a big temple on his grave, without having any entrance to the temple as no idol was to be worshipped. They believe that god has no definite shape, size, colour or odour.

As per the legend, Swami, originally known as Jogeswar Das, observed deep penance at the Himalayas between 1802 and 1810. Finally, he selected Joranda as his permanent abode.

He rescued the poet Bhima Bhoi from a deep hole on his way to village Jaka and had accepted him as his first disciple.