Salepur police arrested the sherbet seller Prabhakar Rout from Dhenkanal railway station.
As per reports, villagers of Raisunguda in Salepur Tehsil were taken ill on Wednesday night after consuming sherbet during Maha Shivaratri celebrations at local Sapneswar Temple.
The affected villagers were admitted to Raisunguda hospital, Mahanga Community Health Centre and Salepur hospital. A few of them were also shifted to the SCB Hospital and Medical College in Cuttack after their condition deteriorated.
While many of them have been discharged, a few others are still undergoing treatment.
"They are being treated for vomiting and food poisoning. Presently treatment is being provided at Raisunguda hospital, Mahanga Community Health Centre and Salepur hospital," said Cuttack CDMO Biswa Kalyana Patnaik.
While 40 villagers have been admitted to the Raisunguda hospital, 20 are undergoing treatment at the Mahanga community healthcare centre and 30 others admitted to Salepur hospital.
Nine affected persons were shifted to the SCB Hospital and Medical College in Cuttack after their condition deteriorated.
Doctors and nurses from periphery hospitals have been called in to these hospitals to attend to the growing number of patients. While some have been attended to and given the requisite medicines, many others are waiting for their turn due to lack of beds and doctors, sources said.
"Enough doctors are present and some of them have been deployed from Salepur and Cuttack hospitals to Raisunguda hospital," said Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Biswa Kalyan Patnaik.
On the other hand, the local police launched a manhunt to trace the sherbet seller.
Devotees in lakhs thronged several temples including the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar since morning to seek the blessings of Lord 'Bholenath' on the auspicious occasion.
Famous shrines-- Kapilas in Dhenkanal, Akhandalamani in Bhadrak, Gupteswar in Koraput, Loknath in Puri, Dhabaleswar in Cuttack, Veda Vyasa in Rourkela and Harishankar in Bolangir have been decorated with colorful lights and flowers on the occasion.
Besides, several cultural programs are also lined up for tonight at various temples including at Lingaraj temple and other Shiva shrines in other parts of the State.
"It is a very auspicious day as people keep fast and pray the Lord for the well being of the family. We eagerly wait for the 'Mahadipa darshan' as devotees break their fast after completion of this ritual," said Trupti, a devotee.
"I have been keeping fast on Shivaratri since my childhood and now this is my first 'Jaagara' after marriage. I am extremely blessed to have a darshan of Prabhu Chandrasekhar here in Kapilas," said Prachi from Dhenkanal.
In view of congregation of devotees at Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri today, the Commissionerate Police has issued advisory to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
On the other hand, the temple administration has also made special arrangements to ensure smooth and timely conduct of all rituals on the occasion.
The rituals began early in the morning with Mangal Arati and Abakasa Niti. The Mahadeep will be placed atop the temple crown at 10 pm, officials of the temple informed.
"We are trying to coordinate with servitors and others associated with the arrangements to conduct the rituals at the temple in an organized manner," said president of Lingaraj Temple Trust Board, Manoj Kumar Mohanty.
https://youtu.be/EfIWlMUOwjc
The sculptures were built by the members of Sudarsan Sand Art Institute, a sand art training centre set up by him.
So many sculptures are being built for the first time in the country and Patnaik expects it to create a new record.
The creations soon became a major attraction for the visitors on the beach today and hundreds turned up at the spot to behold the sand sculptures of Lord Shiva and the Shiva Linga.
As per the advisory, vehicles coming from Garage Chhak towards Lingaraj Temple will be diverted towards Samantarapur from Sub-Station Chhak. Similarly, vehicles coming from Kapileswar towards the temple will be diverted from Hata Sahi Chhak.
Commuters coming from Punama Gate side will have to take a diversion towards Tini Mundia Temple square and the traffic from Tini Mundia Temple square will be diverted towards Kathagola Sahi.
Besides, vehicles coming to the temple via Kacharapindi will be diverted either towards Tini Mundia Temple or Brajabandhu Kalyan Mandap from Kacharapindi Chhak.
The Commissionerate Police has also beefed up security arrangements in and around the temple for smooth conduct of the festival. While 25 platoons of police force will be engaged at the temple, five Additional ACP rank police officers, 11 ACPs and 100 senior officers will be deployed under supervision of DCP Satyabrat Bhoi. Besides, CCTV cameras have been installed to keep a vigil on anti-social activities on the occasion.
On the other hand, the temple administration has also made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth and timely conduct of all rituals on the occasion. The rituals would begin at 3AM with Mangal Arati and Abakasa Niti. The Mahadeep will be placed atop the temple crown at 10PM.
Preparations for the mega event has already reached the final stages at various Shiva shrines, including Loknath Temple in Puri, Kapilash Temple in Dhenkanal, Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack and Akhandalamani Temple in Aradi.
According to sources, rituals at the temple will start at 3 am on Shivaratri ,which will be celebrated on March 7. First ‘Mangala Arati’ and “Abakasa Niti’ will be performed. Other rituals will continue throughout the day.
The ‘Mahadeepa’, marking the end of the puja, will be placed atop the temple crown at 10 pm, the sources added.
A meeting to finalise the time table for the celebration of ensuing Maha Shivaratri of Lord Lingaraj was held yesterday under the chairmanship of Khurda collector Niranjan Sahoo. The meeting was also attended by temple servitors, fire officials, police and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials.
However, the servitors of the four important nijogs - Badapanda nijog, Badu nijog, Bramhin nijog and Samartha nijog of the temple were absent during the meeting.
Another meeting with the servitors of the four nijogs will be held for a successful celebration of Maha Shivaratri, the district collector said.
Many devotees in 2 km-long serpentine queue were seen waiting outside the Lingaraj Temple since early morning to offer special prayers to the Lord. The door of the temple was opened for ‘Sahanmela’ (open darshan) at around 3 am. This year, the Mahadeepa which marks the end of the puja, has been scheduled to be placed atop the temple at 10 pm.
The temple authorities and Commissionerate Police have made special arrangements in and outside the temple to ensure hassle-free darshan of the deity. Barricades have been put for smooth movement of the devotees. This apart, 30 platoons of police force and CCTV cameras have been installed to keep a tab on the devotees.
#WATCH: Devotees throng shiva shrines across #Odisha on #Mahashivratri #MahaShivaratri2019 pic.twitter.com/jHai8i1RDy
— OTV (@otvnews) March 4, 2019
The festival is also being observed with similar religious fervour at Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack where the Lord was adorned in ‘Keteki’ flower. Here, the Mahadeepa will be raised atop the temple at 4 am tomorrow.
Devotees also made beeline at Akhandalamani Temple as darshan was opened for Sahanamela at 4 am today. The Mahadeepa will be raised at 4 am. Elaborate arrangements have been made by the administration and temple authorities for smooth conduct of the rituals and darshan of the deity.
I have come from Kendrapara and was in queue since 4 am, said a devotee after having darshan of Lord Akhandalamani.
Similarly, thousands of people thronged Lokanath Temple on this auspicious occasion. “We have been waiting outside the temple since 2 am. I feel blessed that I will have the darshan on Maha Shivaratri which falls once in a year,” said a devotee.
As per reports, the door of the sanctum sanctorum of Lokanath Temple was opened at 12 midnight following which rituals like Mangala Alati, Mailam, Tadap lagi, Abakash Niti, Sakhala Dhupa and Madhyana Dhupa. Later the temple was thrown open for devotees. The Mahadeepa will be raised atop the temple at 4 am tomorrow.
Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees witnessed 'Mahadeep' being lifted atop Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar almost half an hour ahead of schedule at around 9.30 pm.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday held a preparatory meeting with the representatives of the sevayat groups and trust bodies of the 11th century shrine to discuss the festival arrangements in and outside the temple in view of the pandemic restrictions. The meeting was chaired by the BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary.
Elderly people above 60 years and children below 12 years will not be allowed inside Lingaraj Temple during the occasion as they have been categorized under the vulnerable section of the people, informed Chaudhary.
Devotees will not be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Gruha) of the temple and darshan will be allowed from Ada Katha during the Sahana Mela, added the BMC Commissioner.
Arrangements for sanitation and thermal screening will be made at the entrance. Devotees will be allowed entry from Singhdwara and exit through Dakshinadwara and Uttaradwara of the shrine. Barricades will also be installed inside and outside the temple to ensure social distancing among the people, said
In case, a devotee is found down with certain symptoms of Covid-19 s/he will be taken for antigen test at the camps installed outside the temple, said Chaudhary.
Drinking water and shades will be made available for the devotees. Lighting of earthen lamps will be allowed inside and outside the temple. However, people will be allowed to sit with diyas inside the shrine keeping in view the availability to space and adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
The Cuttack district administration has decided to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC around the famous Dhabaleswar Temple in Athagarh area to prevent the congregation of devotees on Shivratri. The restrictions will be in place from 6 am on March 11 till 6 am on March 12.
The Mahadeepa will be hoisted atop the temple between 12 am and 12.30 am, said reports.
The decision in this regard was taken in a meeting attended by the representatives of the temple, officials of the district administration, local police and the local sarpanch under the Chairmanship of Athgarh Sub-Collector Ajambar Mohanty, on Thursday.
"In order to avoid social gathering on Maha Shivaratri, Section 144 will be clamped in and around Dhabaleswar Temple from 6 am on March 11 to the next morning. Besides, the nitis (rituals) of the Lord will be performed by the priests only and adequate police force will be deployed in the temple to ensure outsiders did not enter the shrine," informed Mohanty.
The Bhadrak district administration has also decided to clamp prohibitory orders under Section 144 at the Akhandaleswar Mahdev Temple in Aradi on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri from 7 am on 10 March to 7 am on 12 March in order to prevent gathering and congregation of devotees during the pandemic.
On the other hand, the Pankodhhara Ekadasi on March 9 and Jagara Jatra on March 11, respectively will be held amid strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols at Lokanath Temple in Puri. Limited number of sevayats will be allowed to carrying out the Pankodhhara Ekadasi rituals while the devotees will be allowed to have darshan of the Shivling from outside 'Gambhira' of the temple.
Similarly, devotees will be allowed to have darshan of the deity between 4 am to 12 am which was previously allowed from midnight. This was decided in a meeting held between officials of the district administration and temple body yesterday.
"Amid the reports of resurgence of Covid-19 cases and in view of the protocols laid down by the State government, the rituals of Pankodhar Ekadasi will be performed by limited number of sevayats and people will be allowed to have the darshan of the Shivalinga from outside the 'Gambhira'," said Puri Sub-Collector Bhabatarana Sahu after the meeting.
"There will be no Bhajan and cultural programmes on Maha Shivaratri. Thermal screening of the devotees will be done at the entrance. Vendors coming from outside to sell diyas and dhupas in the temple will not be allowed in the premises of the shrine," added Sahu.
Even though the Covid-19 situation is under control in Odisha, there has been surge in the number of daily cases in several other States like Maharashtra, Punjab and Kerala.
https://youtu.be/nfEjn23PB0g
In letter to Collectors and Municipal Commissioners, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has directed them to restrict congregations, gatherings to such number as may be felt appropriate in view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation considering local situations, circulation space availing within temples and its premises to enter strictly adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocols.
“Mela, congregations outside/within the temple premises may also be reasonably restricted so as to avoid mass gathering/ crowding,” the SRC letter read.
Moreover, the State government has also directed Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to take stringent action against persons under the provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and other relevant laws.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)