Devotees throng temples on ‘Bada Osha’, massive security deployed at Dhabaleswar Temple, Puri Srimandir

On the last Monday of the holy Kartika month, the revered Dhabaleswar shrine in Cuttack district came alive with the sound of conch shells, chants, and the fragrance of incense as thousands of devotees gathered for the auspicious ‘Bada Osha’ celebrations.

Lord Dhabaleswar donned the resplendent ‘Bada Singhar’ attire today, marking one of the most sacred days of the Shaivite festival calendar.

Early Rituals Mark Bada Osha

Sources at the ground reported that temple rituals began at 4 am with the ceremonial opening of the sanctum (‘pahadakholaa’) followed by a holy bath with 108 pitchers of water and the performance of the traditional Mangala Alati.

Following the ritual purification, Baba Dhabaleswar was adorned with the ‘Bada Singhar’ decorations, which is a richly symbolic form of Lord Shiva that devotees believe bestows divine grace and fulfilment of wishes.

Reports added that from early morning, a steady stream of devotees crossed the Mahanadi to reach the Dhabaleswar island temple. Long queues were seen on both the pedestrian bridge and the ferry routes, with chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ echoing through the riverbank.

Massive Security Deployment To Manage Crowd

Given the huge turnout on the concluding Monday of Kartika, the Cuttack district administration has implemented extensive security arrangements.

According to reports, two Additional SPs, two Executive Magistrates, 100 police officers, and 15 platoons of police force have been deployed to manage the crowd, ensure order, and facilitate smooth darshan. CCTV cameras and control units have also been stationed across the entry and exit points of the temple premises.

Police personnel and volunteers have been positioned along the connecting bridge and riverbank to prevent overcrowding and assist elderly devotees. Health and fire service units are also on standby throughout the day.

ALSO READ: Lord Dhabaleswar adorns Chandrachuda Besha on second day of Panchuka, devotees throng shrine in Cuttack

Festive Devotion Continues At Puri Srimandir

Meanwhile, in Puri, the second day of the sacred Panchuka observance saw heavy footfall at the Jagannath Temple.

Devotees thronged in long queues to witness Lord Jagannath in the ‘Adikia’ or ‘Tribikram’ besha, where the deities are decorated with golden ornaments such as 'ghagadamali', 'padmamali', 'barakolimala', and 'sripayar'. The elaborate attire signifies Lord Jagannath’s cosmic stride and is regarded as one of the most spiritually charged moments of the month.