Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of Mahalaya, special prayers and rituals were performed for the forefathers across the state on Monday, even as preparations for Dussehra gained momentum.
Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha. On this occasion, the devotees perform ‘tarpan’ remembering their ancestors.
The ancestors both from paternal and maternal sides are offered water and food along riverbanks and a few ponds. The belief is that ancestors bless the family once the rituals are performed.
There has been a rush at Baisi Pahacha of Puri Jagannath temple, Nabhigaya and the Bindusagar lake in Bhubaneswar since early morning. People and servitors could be seen performing the rituals in around two km length of Bindusagar.
“Mahalaya Amavasya is considered as a highly auspicious day for performing rituals like ‘pitru shradha’ and ‘tarpana’. It is performed to satisfy the forefathers. It is also called ‘maula shradha’,” said a priest near Bindusagar.
“We have been performing these ritual and following this tradition since the last 18 years,” said a city denizen, who was at Bindusagar to perform ‘shardha’.
“We believe that the rituals performed near this pond will be more successful. So, many people have been coming here to offer ‘tarpana’. Special offerings like cooked rice, banana and black sesame seeds, flowers, chandan and basil leaves as a part of ‘Tarpana’ ritual are made to the departed souls,” said a servitor near Narendra Pushkarini in Puri.
Thousands of devotees flocked to the temple of Maa Samaleswari in Sambalpur on Sunday to have a darshan of the deity’s ‘Dhabalamukhi Besha’ (White Costume), the eve of Mahalaya. The devotees can witness this Besha of the deity for the next two and half days.
Notably, the devotees get an opportunity to witness Maa in this costume once a year.
To control the rush in the temple, the district administration has initiated various measures. Police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.
According to mythology, Goddess Durga was invoked to kill demon Mahisasur on this day. Khadi Lagi ritual will also be held on this day at puja pandals. Following this ritual, the idols of the Goddess Durga will be coloured.
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