Devotees Walk Through Fire in the Final Ritual of Maa Mangala’s Famous Jhamu Yatra
Kakatpur | 11/04
On the first Tuesday of the sacred month of Baisakha, the renowned Jhamu Yatra of Maa Mangala, the presiding deity of Kakatpur, was celebrated with great devotion. The final procession (Pali Yatra) of Maa culminated today with intense spiritual energy reverberating through the region as the Ghanta Patua dancers performed.
As part of the ritual, married women in the village, observing the traditional Panthi Osha, concluded their vow today, offering prayers and fulfilling their spiritual pledges to Maa Mangala. The Pali Yatra, which began from the Netotsav of Maa on the first Tuesday of the month of Chaitra, concluded today with the fifth and final Tuesday.
While many Shakti Peethas across the state observe the Jhamu Yatra on Pana Sankranti, at Maa Mangala’s Peetha it culminates on the first Tuesday of Baisakha. Early this morning at 3 a.m., rituals such as Maa’s holy bath, Surya Puja (sun worship), Dwarapala Puja (gatekeeper worship), and Maa’s adornment in Raja Rajeshwari Besha were performed. Following the opening of the temple gates at 4 a.m., devotees had the opportunity for general darshan.
As part of the final ritual, women who had undertaken vows (Mansika) completed their observance by mid-day. Patuas from the Mali community of Jhanjharpur Sharala Peetha arrived, took the divine command (Agyanmala) from the goddess, and fetched water from the Ghantatola Ghat of River Prachi. They then walked across a specially prepared 12-foot-long fire trench in front of the temple. In an act of deep devotion and physical endurance, the Bhui Patua dancers from the local community also walked across the fire and performed the traditional Ghanta Patua dance, thus concluding the grand event.
While many other Shakti Peethas observe Jhamu Yatra during Pana Sankranti, at Maa Mangala’s shrine, it marks the final celebration of the fifth Pali Yatra. It is believed that women who undertake the Panchapali Brata and have Maa’s darshan with sincere devotion on this sacred day will have all their wishes fulfilled.
To manage the heavy crowd, the temple administration had arranged barricades, drinking water, and organized queues for a smooth darshan experience. The local police deployed two platoons of force and ten officers for crowd control. However, traffic was reportedly disrupted on the Kakatpur–Nimapara and Kakatpur–Konark roads.
Despite the extreme heat, more than two lakh devotees from across the state and outside gathered at Prachi Kshetra, Kakatpur, to take part in this divine celebration. The Jhamu Yatra was coordinated and overseen by the Maa Mangala Temple Trust Committee, led by trustee and local Tehsildar Biranchi Narayan Behera, Executive Officer Kailash Chandra Dash, Palia Sevak Netrananda Dixit, and chief priest Subash Chandra Padhi, who ensured all rituals and arrangements were properly conducted.
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