Konark: Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida joined lakhs of devotees at Konark’s Chandrabhaga beach in Odisha’s Puri district on Sunday to witness the first sunrise on the auspicious occasion of Magha Saptami.
She performed Surya aarti and offered arghya in the sea.
“Lakhs of devotees gather here to perform rituals. For the first time, I had the opportunity to come here. We were fortunate to get the opportunity to have darshan of the Lord, perform aarti, and offer arghya,” she told the media.
From the early hours of dawn, Chandrabhaga beach witnessed an overwhelming influx of devotees estimated to be around 2 lakh. As the first rays of the sun touched the horizon, t
housands immersed themselves in the sea, believing the ritual bath purifies the soul and brings blessings of health and prosperity.
According to Hindu belief, it marks the Sun God’s transition towards the northern hemisphere, symbolising the change of seasons and renewal of life.
The rituals began at Arka Kshetra with the ceremonial procession of 3 presiding deities — Trivenishwar of Madhipur, Aishaneshwar of Santhapur and Dakshineshwar of Kurujanga — who were brought to the Chandrabhaga Tirtha Mandap. The deities were given a Mahasnana (holy bath) at 4.51 am, followed by elaborate prayers and offerings.
The devotees were allowed to take holy dip from 5.01 am onwards as the air resonated with fervent chants of “Jai Surya Narayan”, the blowing of conch shells, and soulful devotional hymns, creating a deeply spiritual ambiance, according to sources.
The event was not limited to common devotees; saints and seers from across the country also participated. They performed Vedic rituals, meditated, and offered prayers, reinforcing the sanctity of the occasion.