Bhawanipatna: Festive fervour has already gripped the people in different parts of the state. The famous Chatar Yatra of Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district kickstarted on Wednesday at the Manikeswari Temple.
The ceremonial Chatar of Goddess Manikeswari Temple was taken out in the early morning today to the Jena Khal, where a Gupta Puja (secret ritual) will be held. After this, the Chatar of the deity will be taken out in a procession accompanied by the beats of different traditional instruments, Ghumura, Ghanta and folk music.
Thousands of devotees gathered on the two sides of the road for the yatra. A large number of animals were sacrificed by the devotees to appease the Goddess and to get their wishes fulfilled.
According to sources, many devotees of the state, as well as from outside the state have also gathered in Bhawanipatna for the yatra. The district administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
Kalahandi ADM Sharat Chandra Shrichandan said, “We have been doing planning for the Chatar Yatra. We had discussed the strategy of conducting puja smoothly with some natives of Bhawanipatna, the police and district administration. We are all ready to conduct this yatra smoothly.”
In Bhawanipatna, 13 platoons of police force have been deployed to maintain law and order.
A large number of animals were sacrificed during the celebration of the famous Chatar Yatra and the four-km road between the Manikeswari Temple to Jena Khal was soaked in blood, even though animal sacrifice is prohibited.
