Kotpad, April 7: The triennial Ghata Yatra of Maa Sheetala Thakurani in Kotpad of Koraput district concluded on Wednesday.
From early morning, devotees performed rituals at their homes under the guidance of priests and established sacred ghata kumbhas (holy pots). Thereafter, accompanied by the sounds of traditional instruments like bells, mahuri, and nagara, they proceeded to the Maa Sheetala Thakurani temple.
After performing homa yajna, the deity’s ceremonial procession (bimana) was taken around the town and then carried about 2 km to an temporary shrine at the far end of Damayanti Sagar, where the goddess was ceremonially installed.
Deities from nearby villages also joined the procession with traditional items like kathi, khurjar, and joli, dancing to the rhythm of nagara, mahuri, and bells. During the procession, tribal dances including Madia dance were also witnessed.
A massive crowd, reportedly in lakhs, gathered to witness the event. The local administration extended support to the temple committee, while police managed traffic arrangements.
Fireworks from Andhra Pradesh near the temporary shrine added to the attraction, and fire services personnel were also present. More than 1,000 ghata kumbhas participated in the procession. At night, rituals including homa were performed at the temporary shrine.
Later at night, the deity’s bimana was brought back to the main temple.
According to local belief, Maa Sheetala Thakurani was once taken away by the King of Jagdalpur on an elephant. However, when the elephant fell ill near the end of Damayanti Sagar, the king could not proceed further and left the goddess there. Later, following divine instructions received in a dream by a priest, the deity was brought to her present permanent shrine at Bahariguda Sahi.
Since then, this Ghata Yatra has been celebrated once every three years.
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