Mrunal Manmay Dash

Bhawanipatna: An air of spiritualism and divinity grips Bhawanipatna, the district headquarter of Kalahandi, as Maa Manikeswari ventured out of her abode for the annual sojourn called ‘Chhatar Jatra’ today.

As per the Odia calendar, Maa Manikeswari is taken out of her temple for this divine journey on the eighth day of Shukla Paksh in the month of Aswina.

As part of the rituals, the deity was taken to Jenakhala in the suburbs of Bhawanipatna at midnight yesterday after completion of ‘Shodasa Puja’ ritual.

Despite restrictions, thousands of animals were reportedly sacrificed on this auspicious occasion in Bhawanipatna.

As lakhs of devotees throng to witness this divine journey of the deity, 10 platoons of security forces were deployed to thwart any untoward incident.

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