Makar Festival Celebrated at Mangala Temple and Madhabananda Peeth in Kakatupar

Kakatpur, 14/01 (Tushar Dixit):
The sacred occasion of Makar Sankranti was observed with great devotion at the revered shrine of Goddess Mangala in Kakatpur. Following the completion of the daytime rituals (Diba Niti), the sanctum was closed and later reopened for a special offering ceremony. Devotees and servitors presented Makar Chaula—a traditional offering made from freshly harvested rice (Nua Arua Chaula), chhena (cottage cheese), banana, ginger, milk, coconut, and spices—as bhoga (sacred offering) to the deity.

At 5 PM, a special ritual procession (Beda Parikrama) was conducted. In a beautifully arranged eight-metal plate (Ashtadhatu Thali), Puja Panda Sharata Kumar Dixit, accompanied by the temple executive officer and servitors, carried out the procession with the sounds of bells, gongs, ceremonial umbrellas, and conch shells. The ritual included carrying the idols of Goddess Kali (first), Goddess Saraswati (second), and finally, Goddess Lakshmi around the temple complex. According to Ravindra Nath Jena, chief of the temple’s ritual management committee, devotees consider themselves spiritually fulfilled by offering and receiving the blessed Makar Chaula after the Beda Parikrama.

Simultaneously, the Makar Parva was grandly celebrated at the ancient 18th-century shrine of Lord Madhabananda, situated on the banks of the holy Prachi River. This shrine is especially known for its miraculous healing, particularly for chronic respiratory illnesses. Devotees from across districts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, and Puri gathered with deep faith, seeking divine blessings and relief.

Under the guidance of Madhabananda Yuba Natya Parishad president Biswajit Das, a vibrant cultural program was organized by the Nilakanthapur team, captivating the audience with devotional performances. Similarly, other sacred sites like the Mahavir Temple in Patisahi, the Swameswar Temple, and the riverbank shrines of Ashtashambhu and Dwadasha Madhav also observed the auspicious festival with great fervor and spiritual enthusiasm.