First Pali Yatra and Netrotsav Rituals Held at Maa Mangala Temple
Kakatpur, 18/3 (Tushar Dixit) – Today marked the first Tuesday of the month of Chaitra. In keeping with tradition, the first Pali Yatra was observed at the temple of the presiding deity, Maa Mangala, in Kakatpur. The rituals began at 3 AM with the ceremonial opening of the temple doors, followed by Mangala Alati, inner sanctum purification, bathing of the deity, ornamentation, sandalwood application, Surya Puja (sun worship), and Ballav Niti. After Ballav Niti, morning incense rituals and Bandapana Alati were performed, and the temple was opened to the public for darshan.
Thousands of devotees from various regions lined up within barricades to enter the temple and witness Maa Mangala in a special sandalwood attire. Married women offered prayers at the Panthai near the temple for the well-being of their husbands and children. Around 1 PM, the Netrotsav (flag-changing ceremony) was conducted, during which a new flag (neta) was worshipped before being taken in a grand procession around the temple thrice. It was then hoisted atop the temple, and the old flag was taken down.
Chants of “Haribol” and sounds of conch shells echoed throughout the temple premises and surrounding areas during the celebrations. The chakra (wheel) atop the temple and sanctum was bathed with a mixture of pure water, sandalwood, agarwood, and honey. Devotee-servants from various villages, dressed in traditional attire, circled the temple while singing devotional songs and dancing. Servitors from Jagatsinghpur and local Bhoi sevaks brought sacred water from the Ghantatola ghat of the Prachi River in a grand procession.
Cultural performances such as the Pataua dance took place in front of the temple. Later in the evening, the Bhramani Niti and Bhog rituals were performed. Temple trustee and local Tahasildar Ankita Anindita, along with Maa Mangala Temple’s Executive Officer Kailash Chandra Das, oversaw the arrangements to ensure peaceful darshan for the devotees. From the police department, Kakatpur IIC Umesh Chandra Sahu, ASI Pramod Kumar Sethi, and Manoranjan Parida ensured tight security
