BERHAMPUR: The famous biennial Thakurani Jatra festival in the city entered twelfth day on April 20. But the traditional procession of the ‘ghatam’ representing the goddess Budhi Thakurani, a major ritual of the festival started from April 18 night. This ritual had been deferred at the request of the administration and police due to continuing election process.
Usually the ‘ghatam’ visits the ‘Mausima Street’ on seventh, fourteenth and last day of the festival. But due to elections the ‘ghatam’ procession was taken out to the ‘Mausima Street, on the eleventh night of the festival, on April 18. The holy ‘ghatam’ was first carried to the palace of Mahuri dynasty, the erstwhile rulers of Berhampur. From there it was taken in a decorated procession through Bada bazaar, Khaspa Street, Narasimha street and different areas of the old city area. Thousands of devotees offered puja to the ‘ghatam’ at different places. Slowly the festivities of Thakurani Jatra is picking up in the city. On April 19 a large number of visitors from rural areas came down to the city to enjoy the festival. The number of devotees in garbs of mythological characters has also started to increase. A few ‘tiger dance’ performers were also seen on the streets of the city during Sunday.
Carnival spirit
With the Thakurani Jatra picking up its gusto, carnival spirit is slowly gripping the whole city. Youth and children have started moving all around the city in the attire of mythological characters. For the poor who cannot afford the costly attires there is the ‘Chhod Gajia Vesha”, which needs only torn clothes and black shoot as body colour.
The Hindu
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