Chandan Yatra of Maa Mangala of Kakatpur
The Maa Mangala shrine at Kakatpur in Puri district is one of the prominent Ashta Chandis (eight forms of Goddess Durga) in the state. The Maa Mangala temple, located in Kakatpur, is deeply intertwined with the Jagannath culture of Odisha. There exists a unique alignment between the rituals and festivals of the Maa Mangala temple and those of the Lord Jagannath Temple, although it’s often difficult for ordinary devotees to understand this connection.
Among all the festivals, the Chandan Yatra (Sandalwood Festival) stands out as a significant event. This festival has been celebrated for a long time and is one of the major traditional processions of Lord Jagannath. While Chandan Yatra is celebrated in many parts of Odisha, including Puri, it is observed for the longest duration at the Maa Mangala Temple during the month of Vaishakha.
Inside the temple premises, to the south side, lies the Radha-Krishna temple. During the scorching summer of Vaishakha, the idols experience extreme heat, which is why they are anointed with sandalwood paste. The Chandan Yatra is held to provide relief from the intense summer heat. For the daily bathing ritual of the deities, fragrant water is prepared using sandalwood, camphor, turmeric, lime, musk, nutmeg, jasmine, champa, juhi, sugandharaja, rose, and other aromatic ingredients. Lord Radha and Krishna bathe in this fragrant water, and every evening they are taken out in a beautifully decorated palanquin.
Accompanied by the sounds of conches, bells, mridangam, khol (drum), cymbals, mahuri (wind instrument), and hulahuli (ululation), Lord Radha and Krishna are carried in procession by priests, Gopals (cowherds), and Bhoi sevayats (temple attendants) around the town. This festival continues for a total of 22 days. It begins on the third day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Vaishakha, also known as Akshaya Tritiya. Maa Mangala’s unique festival has gained prominence throughout Odisha.
It is believed that the Chandan Yatra originated in the 13th century CE. The entire event is organized and conducted under the supervision of the Temple Trust Board Chairman and Tehsildar Biranchi Narayan Behera, and Executive Officer Kailash Chandra Dash.
