Khandabasa Yatra: Prohibitory Order Around Lankeswari Temple In Odisha’s Kalahandi

Bhawanipatna: The Kalahandi district administration on Thursday said that Section 144 of the CrPC will be clamped around the temple of Goddess Lankeswari in Junagarh since afternoon to prohibit large congregation of the devotees for Khandabasa Yatra.

Stating that the prohibitory order within a radius of 500 metres of the temple will remain in force from 2 pm to 6 am (Friday), the administration said that the decision has been taken keeping in mind the COVID-19 guidelines.

Khandabasa Jatra at Lankeswari Pitha of Junagarh is an important festival of Kalahandi district which is held in the Odia month of Ashwina (September-October).

Goddess Lankeshwari has been the deity of the Royal families of this region including the Chidakanaga, Gangas and Naga. It is believed that originally the Goddess was the protector of Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana and was known as Lankini and Lanka Devi. The Banka Paikas (a fighting clan) of Junagarh brought her here after defeating the king of Lanka. Since then, she has been worshipped with due reverence ever since as the Goddess of war against the enemy.