Chaitra Festival of Goddess Mangala Begins with First Pali Yatra and Netrotsav, Devotees Gather in Huge Numbers
Kakatpur, 27/03/2024 (Tushar Dixit):
The Chaitra festival, also known as the Jhamu Yatra, has commenced at the revered shrine of Goddess Mangala, the presiding deity of Kakatpur in Puri district. This famous month-long festival begins on the first Tuesday of the Chaitra month and continues until the first Tuesday of the Baisakh month.
As per tradition, the Chaitra month is believed to be the birth month of Maa Mangala, as it was during this month that she was discovered from the Prachi River and consecrated. Hence, every year the Chaitra festival is observed with great devotion.
Today marked the first Tuesday, celebrated as Netrotsav, during which the new divine eyes (Netra) of the deity are ritually worshipped and installed, followed by a procession around the temple complex. Members of the Yadav community participated by playing the traditional game of Lahudi during the procession.
Later, temple servitors performed the Dadhinauti ritual — bathing and decorating the deity with new attire, thus completing the Netrotsav proceedings. This year, after two years of pandemic restrictions, the event saw a massive turnout of devotees.
The temple courtyard was vibrant, with devotees offering Biri (black gram), Arua rice, and Jamu dal to the goddess, praying for family welfare, circling the temple, and performing Panthi Puja. The sounds of devotional songs and ululations reverberated throughout the temple.
At 2 PM, Patuas (traditional dancers) from Sarla arrived and fetched sacred water from the Ghantatola ghat of the Prachi River, performing Patuanritya both inside and outside the temple, witnessed by thousands of devotees.
To ensure the smooth and peaceful execution of the entire month-long Pali Yatra and the Jhamu Yatra, Mangala Temple administration made extensive preparations. According to Kakatpur Tehsildar and Temple Trust Board President Ankita Anindita, multiple arrangements were made for smooth darshan of devotees.
Executive Officer Kailash Chandra Das stated that the temple opened at 3 AM, followed by daily rituals like Mangala Alati, Snana Marjana, Surya Puja, Ballava, and Sakala Dhupa. By 5 AM, the Pahuda was opened. Devotees entering from afar were guided in a regulated queue system, entering through the East Gate and exiting via the North Gate.
Local police enforced traffic control, and police forces were deployed inside and around the temple. Information centers, medical camps, and drinking water stations were set up, while fire services arranged water sprinkling for devotees to ease the heat.
During the first Pali Yatra, Prakash Chandra Panda served as the Palia Sevak, and Prakash Panda performed the Shodasha Upachara Puja. With the start of the first Pali Yatra, the entire Kakatpur region came alive with festive fervor, celebrating the divine presence of Maa Mangala.
