Berhampur: The seven-day-long biennial festival of Buddhi Thakurani, popularly known as ‘Thakurani Yatra’, will commence here on April 9 midnight and the district administration has advised everybody to adhere to the COVID regulations.
The Subha Khunti (auspicious post) was installed in front of the house of Patarla Durga Prasad Desibehera, the chief organiser of the yatra, on March 22 (Monday) late night.
Earlier Desibehera discussed with Vasudeva Sastry Sidhanti, the traditional astrologer, and announced the date of the yatra. Desibehera and others from Desibehera Street went to the Goddess temple in a procession as a ritual to bring the Subha Khunti.
Buddhi Thakurani is considered as the daughter of the Desi Behera and the deity stays with her father’s family during the entire Yatra period. The yatra is celebrated to mark the visit of Goddess Budhi Thakurani from the temple to her father’s house at Desibehera Street.
Meanwhile, Desibehera appealed to the public to cooperate for observing the yatra smoothly and follow the COVID guidelines strictly. “We would maintain the tradition and rituals amidst Covid guidelines and we are having the blessings of Goddess Budhi Thakurani,” Desibehera said.
According to some eminent historians, the cult of Buddhi Thakurani originated along with the emergence of Berhampur town in and around 1672 AD.
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