Spiritual fervour in Puri as holy Kartika month begins

The sacred Kartika Brata began today with thousands of devotees, known as Habisyalis, observing the month-long ritual with devotion and discipline. The Habisyalis took a solemn vow and offered prayers, witnessing the special Radha Damodar Besha at the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

On the other hand, the rituals of Kumar Purnima were also observed at the Srimandir today. As part of the tradition, Lord Sudarshan will symbolically visit the four ashrams, marking the divine significance of the occasion. This year, a larger-than-usual crowd of devotees has been witnessed in Srikshetra for the Kartika Brata. To accommodate the influx, arrangements have been made across four dedicated centres for the stay of around 2,500 Habisyalis.

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For their convenience, special facilities have been organized, including smooth temple darshan, Mahaprasad seva, daily puja rituals, Akash Deepa (sky lamp) ceremonies, and various cultural programmes that add a devotional fervour to the holy month.

The holy Kartika month, also known as the ‘month of lights and devotion,’ holds special spiritual importance in the Jagannath tradition, and today’s ceremonies marked a deeply auspicious beginning for devotees across Odisha.