Lakhs throng Thakurani Yatra on last day, Berhampur bears the look of a fancy dress show

BERHAMPUR: Now its curtains down on the carnival! Lakhs of people were eager enough to bid a tearfull farewell to their daughter, revered Goddess Thakurani (treated as the daughter of the city who visits her parents every two years) as they have to wait for another two years to witness such a carnival. Lakhs of people from Orissa and from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, West Bengal and Jharkhand thronged silk city Berhampur on the last day of the famous Thakuarni Yatra to have a glimpse of the Goddess and to be part of the grand festivity that is associated with the carnival. The Yatra was celebrated here after an interval of two years. The Yatra started on April 8, when the Thakurani came to her paternal house at the Deshibehera Street here and stayed at the temporary abode for 27 days. On the last day, Goddess Thakurani returned back to the home of her in-laws, the Budhi Thakurani Temple, in the City.

About the Carnival

Thakurani Yatra is a unique biennial celebration of the carnival spirit that lurks in every heart, whether young or old. The whole city of Berhampur in south Orissa bears the look of a fancy dress show during the Thakurani Yatra festival. The whole city jumps into joyous carnival when the reigning deity of the city goddess Budhi Thakurani makes the journey from her permanent temple to a temporary temple at Desibehera Street .It is regarded as the journey of the deity, the role of a married woman, to her parental abode from her in-laws' home. The carnival continues till the deity returns back to her temple after 24 days. As an offering to the deity, during the festival, thousands of people of all ages don the garb of mythological characters. Brothers become Pandavas. Transcending time, Krishna and Hanuman walk the streets hand in hand.Demons and witches jump into the crowd. To mark the religious harmony of the city participants of the festival enact even crucifixion of Christ. Some even try to advertise brands on their painted bodies. Mass carnival rallies by hundreds of persons with tonsured heads mocking the false godmen, a rally by more than 108 children and aged people dressed as 'Vanar Sena' of Lord Ram, procession of people dressed as Buddhist monks or followers of Guru Nanak add colour to this festival. This festival is incomplete without the famous tiger dance of Ganjam district. With their body painted with tiger stripes, people move around performing tiger dance to the beats of drums and 'Changu'.

Source: The Hindu, The Pioneer, Kalingatimes