Culture & Heritage

[Watch] Habishyalis Throng Odisha’s Puri For ‘Kartika Brata’

By
OB Bureau

Puri: Thousands of ‘Habishyalis’ thronged the seaside pilgrim town of Puri in Odisha to observe austerity and offer special puja as part of Kartika ‘Brata’ as the holy month began on Monday.

Elaborate arrangements have been made by the government to facilitate hassle-free rituals of the Habishyalis as the elderly women started puja in the morning.

While observing special ‘brata’ during the holy month of Kartika, the Habishyalis, mostly widows, worship the Lord attired in Radha Damodar Besha on the premises of Shree Jagannath temple.

Arrangements have been made by the administration to accommodate over 3,000 Habishyalis at five centres in the pilgrim town. No Habishyali camp was set up for the last two years due to COVID pandemic.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to formally inaugurate the special camps set up for the convenience of the elderly women through video conference on Monday evening, Puri Collector Samarth Verma said.

A total of 1600 persons can be accommodated at the newly constructed multi-storied Brundabati Nivas on the Grand Road near the holy Narendra pond, while arrangements have been made at 4 other centres, he said.

Stating that the ‘brata’ observers were served Mahaprasad on Sunday evening, the Collector said that eight priests will help them in performing the recitation of ‘Kartik Mahatmaya’ and ‘Bhagbat’ as per daily routine of ‘brata’ observers.

A team of doctors, Red Cross volunteers and firefighters have also been deployed for the convenience of the Habishyalis, he said. Free transportation of devotees has also been provided.

Verma said registration of names of Habishyalis was done last month and all the rooms have been booked. However, if some people fail to turn up, vacant accommodation can be allotted to others. “We are taking utmost care to ensure that the Habishyalis do not face any form of inconvenience,” he said.

As per religious practices, Habishyalis refrain from eating non-vegetarian food and take food only once in the afternoon which is known as ‘Habisha’, said noted researcher Soumya Ranjan Panda.

The Habishyalis observe complete austerity and take part in ‘Pusparania Snana’ to receive ultimate salvation, he said.

Lifeguards are also being deployed at the holy Narendra pond for the safety of Habishyalis, while special arrangements were made for darshan of the deities at Srimandir and partaking Mahaprasad.

Happy over the arrangements made by the government, Rebati Tarei, a Habishyali from Bhadrak district thanked the Chief Minister for the facilities provided to the devotees. “We were taken in a bus to Srimandir for darshan. There were volunteers to look after us,” she said.

Damayanti Behera from Tumudibandha in Kandhamal also thanked Naveen for the arrangements made for the convenience of Habishyalis. “We performed puja rituals in the morning and visited Srimandir where we had smooth darshan of the deities,” she added.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

OHRC Seeks Report From Odisha Govt On Mango Kernel Deaths In Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has sent notices to Secretaries of Food &…

November 7, 2024

Why Are Kartik Aaryan’s Parents Scared Of Bollywood?

New Delhi: Even as his recently-released horror comedy ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ continues to mint money…

November 7, 2024

How Delhi Police Cracked Gangrape Of Odisha Researcher; Cop In Guise Of Social Worker, Footage Of 700 CCTVs

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: After over 20 days of investigation and analysing more than 700 CCTV cameras,…

November 7, 2024

‘No Notification Exists’: HC Closes Plea Against 1988 Ban On Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has closed proceedings on a petition challenging the Rajiv…

November 7, 2024

Criticised For Touching His Wife’s Feet, Vikrant Massey Gives It Back To Trollers

Mumbai: ‘12th Fail’ actor Vikrant Massey recently got trolled after pictures of him touching his…

November 7, 2024

Threat Call: Was Shah Rukh Khan Targeted For His Deer-Hunting Dialogue In ‘Anjaam’?

Mumbai: Mumbai Police swung into action immediately after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan received a…

November 7, 2024

[Watch] Snowfall In Desert For The First Time!

Dubai: The effects of global climate change are being seen in various manifestations across the globe.…

November 7, 2024

Police Case Against Websites Selling T-Shirts With Photos Of Dawood, Bishnoi

Mumbai: When criminals are idolised and used for commercial purposes, police are bound to take action.…

November 7, 2024