Joranda Mela: Travel Enthusiasts Unravel This Fascinating Piece Of Odishan Culture

Bhubaneswar/Dhenkanal: The biting cold of Saturday morning failed to dampen the spirits of the seven heritage and culture enthusiasts, who had teamed up to visit the ongoing Joranda or Magha Mela in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district.

They drove from Bhubaneswar and their first stop was Dhenkanal Palace, which is a blend of the Kalingan and Rajasthani architecture. It was built by Bhagirath Mahendra Pratap Raybahadur in 1850. The palace has now been transformed into a heritage stay for tourists. The team visited Siddha Balarama Temple at Ganesh Bazaar before heading towards Joranda Mela.

The Mela site was jam-packed with devotees and Mahima monks from all over the country. The tourists paid homage at the tomb of Mahima Gosain and also interacted with the Mahima monks.

The event is observed to mark the day of salvation of Saint Mahima Gosain. It is celebrated on a full moon day in the month of January or February. It is organised by Mahanitya Sadhubhakta Mandali, the Satya Mahima Dharma Dhama Parichalana Samiti and the Dhenkanal administration.

Sharing his experience, senior citizen Abhimanyu Mohapatra said, “I did not know anything about Mahima cult and their practices until I came here. These are quite fascinating pieces of our culture.”

The trip was facilitated by Team Aitiha, a start-up project which enables travel enthusiast to know about Odisha’s heritage and history through guided tours.