Grand Kalash Yatra of Ladukesh Mahadev Celebrated with Fervor
Nayagarh | 23/02/2025 (Bhaskar Chandra Swain):
The sacred Prana Pratishtha Utsav (consecration ceremony) of Lord Ladukesh Mahadev was celebrated with grandeur at Raghunathpur village under Machhipada Panchayat in Nayagarh block.
On the first day, the Ankuraropana (seed sowing) ritual marked the beginning of the festival. More than a hundred men and women from the village participated in a Kalash Yatra, carrying holy water from the nearby river. The procession circumambulated the village and reached the temple, where the water was offered with devotion.
As the Yajna (sacred fire ritual) began, the rituals included worshipping the Sun God and invoking all deities with the chanting of Vedic hymns. The Kalash Yatra participants and devotees observed vows (vrata) and later partook in the pana offering and prasad distribution.
A cultural program was held in the evening, entertaining the gathering and enhancing the spiritual atmosphere. The celebration, spanning four days, featured various cultural activities.
On Maha Shivaratri, the sacred Prana Pratishtha of Ladukesh Mahadev was conducted, after which the deity was made accessible for public darshan (viewing), allowing devotees to receive blessings from the newly consecrated idol.