Dhenkanal: The annual Magha Mela, organised by the followers of Mahima sect, took off at Joranda in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district on Saturday.
Thousands of devotees and followers of Mahima Swami gathered at the Mahima Gadi (abode of Mahima Swami) to participate in the three-day festival. All the rituals related to the festival were performed after cleaning of the temple premises while the ‘Jhada Deepa’ (sacred lamp) ritual will be performed in the evening.
Expecting a huge footfall of the followers at Joranda for the festival, which is orgaised after 2 years due to COVID pandemic, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for their convenience. While the security has been beefed up for the followers, who are expected to come from neighbouring states and outside the country, facilities like toilets, drinking water and others are in place.
This year, 150th Prabhupurnima Utsav will be celebrated by Mahima followers. There was initial hiccups about organising the mela due to differences between the two sects. But the issues were resolved on intervention of the district administration.
The mela is organised every year by the Mahima followers since 1876 after the death of its founder Mahima Swami. They built a temple at the ‘samadhi’ (grave) of the Swami. The temple has no entrance as idol worship is not prescribed by the sect.
As per the legend, Swami, originally known as Jogeswar Das, observed deep penance in the Himalayas between 1802 and 1810. He selected Joranda as his permanent abode.
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