Devotees take holy plunge at Konark

 As per rituals the three deities-Ishaneswar, Dakshineswar and Triveniswar were brought in a procession and mounted on the sacred pedestal. After the rituals were performed the devotees took dip in the sea.

 A day before the pilgrims had spent night near the beach, prepared food for them in earthen pots and were waiting to have a darshan of the Sun god on the east sky.

 “There is a belief that if you take dip four times here on this occasion then you can go to Baikunth, the god’s place”, said a woman devotee.

 According to mythology Shamba, son of Lord Krishna, had been cured of leprosy after a holy dip in the water body on this day. Since then people take holy dip at Chandrabhaga to get rid of ailments.

 Tourists from abroad also descended at Chandrabhaga on this occasion.

 “To us it is a unique experience to be here on this festival”, said a foreign tourist.

 Anticipating huge congregation, district administration had taken adequate measures to deal with any untoward incident.