Budhi Thakurani, the daughter of Berhampur returns to her abode

Berhampur bids tearful adieu to daughter Goddess Budhi Thakurani; Famous Carnival of Thakurani Yatra comes to an end

Sources: The Sambad & MyBerhampur

Curtains down on the colourful Thakurani Yatra in Berhampur

Sources: Anupam Bharat, MyBerhampur, The Sambad, Dharitri.com

Source: MyBerhampur, The Sambad, The Hindu

Berhampur Municipal Corporation promises to make Berhampur the best city of Odisha

Source: The Sambad

Festivity rents the air on the last day of Thakurani Yatra today; lakhs throng the streets of Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Chaitra Yatra 2013: Month long Yatra concludes at Tara Tarini Shakti Pith, over 15 lakh pay obeisance

Marked by devotional celebrations and with the presence of lakhs of devotees the month long Chaitra Yatra at Tara Tarini Shakti Pith came to an end. The chanting of religious hymns in the spiritual ambiance of the Hill Shrine and the ritualistic worship of the devotees throughout the month charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality.

So far as the Chaitra month is concerned, in India's national civil calendar it is the first month of the Hindu year. This month is also associated with the coming of spring season and therefore Holi, the spring festival of colours, is celebrated on the eve of Chaitra throughout the country. The first day of Chaitra is widely celebrated as Hindu New Year's Day in India (Varsha Pratipada), known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Chaitrai Vishu or Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The Chaitra Yatra in the holy Chaitra month is celebrated at the ancient Tara Tarini hill shrine every year during the early spring season that falls in the month of March/April.

Chaitra Yatra 2013 commenced on the 27 March and concluded on April 27. Thousands of Sadhus, Sanyasins, Devi Sadhkas and devotees thronged the shrine for divine blessings of Maa Tara Tarini during this period.

Like the other Tuesdays of the month there was also heavy rush on the last and fourth Tuesday at the hill shrine. Darshan for the devotees started in the sanctum sanctorum after midnight Maha Arati at around 3.00 a.m and continued up to late evening. During the Maha Arati festival thousands of devotees were present at the shrine.

It is notable, that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of celebration at this shrine and devotees gather in lakhs to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Tara Tarini to get rid of their difficulties and to accomplish their worldly desires. On the fourth Tuesday devotees waited in long queues to take a glance of Maa throughout the day and offered prayers. On this occasion more than ten thousand kids tonsured their heads at the Shrine for a delightful life.

Tara Tarini Development Board arranged; Khichdi Prasad for lakhs of the pilgrims, special bus to reach the hill top shrine and made arrangements for special darshan, barbers for Mundan ceremony of the babies besides safe drinking water for the devotees.

As per the tradition like other Tuesdays thousands of families and groups cooked food as an offering to the goddesses in around 2 square k.m orchards of the foothill area after fulfillment of their desires and had a day of picnic at the Shrine.

Heavy police deployment was made by the district administration. Two IPS officers were in charge to control the law and order situation in and around the shrine. The administration also made wide arrangements to control traffic at the foot hill area during the month.

As per primary assessment over 10 lakh of devotees paid obeisance on Four Tuesdays of the Chaitra month and another 5 lakh pilgrims visited the Shrine during other days of the month.

This year the month long Chaitra Yatra at this Shakti Pith has passed off peacefully but it remained in news due to the death of 3 pilgrims.

The district administration, volunteers, social organizations, media (both electronic and print), Panchayat and local people extended their full support to Tara Tarini Development Board for peacefully arranging the Yatra during the whole month.

Berhampur Thakurani Yatra News

PG course on radiation biology introduced in Berhampur University, Bhanja Vihar

Berhampur University has decided to introduce a post graduate diploma course on radiation biology and applications from this academic year. The one-year self-financed course is the first of its kind in the state.

The course will have two semesters and will be equivalent to M Phil. The candidates, after completing the course, can apply for PhD. Students having MSc in life science, biotechnology, chemistry, physics or pharmacy are eligible for admission through an entrance test, sources said.

The course would help tide over the dearth of radiation safety officers (RSOs), assigned with operation and maintenance of radiation safety in different projects under the department of atomic energy.

"The university has the required infrastructure like the Gamma House with cobalt machine on the Botanical Garden premises. The special chamber is being monitored by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Mumbai," said vice-chancellor of the university J K Mohapatra.

"Scientists from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, will also take part in the teaching programme at the university," the VC added.

Berhampur University had signed a memorandum of understanding with the BARC in 2010 to carry out collaborative research on ionizing radiation. Source: ToI 

Draft CDP for Greater Berhampur submitted

STPI Berhampur

The Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Greater Berhampur has started to take its final shape. The draft CDP was handed over to the Ganjam district administration by the Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) on Saturday for suggestions and objections. According to chairperson of the BDA Kailash Rana, all departments related to public utilities were requested to go through the CDP and provide their suggestions and objections within 10 days. These suggestions and objections would be sent to the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) of Government of India for their incorporation in the CDP for greater Berhampur. It may be noted that the TCPO has prepared this CDP in collaboration with Ministry of Urban Development of the State government. The draft prepared after incorporating suggestions of Ganjam district administration and concerned departments related to public utilities, would be made public. A period of 90 days would be provided for general public to furnish their suggestions and objections to the CDP draft. The final draft prepared after considering suggestions from the general public would be sent to the State government for approval. Some salient features of the draft CDP were discussed during a press conference organised by the BDA. The press meet was attended by the chairman of the BDA, Mr. Rana, chief planner of TCPO J. C. Khirsagar and Chief Town Planner and director of town planning Prashant Patnaik. The draft CDP was for an area of 317 sq. km. It comprises three urban areas namely Berhampur, Chatrapur and Gopalpur. Apart from it 139 revenue villages are also part of the CDP for greater Berhampur. One of the major suggestions of the CDP is to have two bypass roads around Berhampur to ease traffic on NH217 that passes through the city. Industrial areas have been demarcated on the outskirts of the city keeping in view the wind direction to reduce air pollution in greater Berhampur area. Similarly areas for bus terminus and proposed airport have been demarcated outside the present city limits.

Source: The Hindu

Source: The Sambad

Festive look in Berhampur with the carnival of Thakurani Yatra entering third week

Source: The Sambad

Third Tuesday of Chaitra draws lakhs of devotees to Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

Source: The Sambad

Berhampur City News- April 2013

Source: The Sambad

TATA Life Line Express reaches Ganjam District

CDP ready, Greater Berhampur to become reality soon

After a long gap of 40 years, the Berhampur city is now set to get a master plan for its planned development. The new master plan (CDP) would be Geographical Information System (GIS)-based as it would depend on remote sensing data provided by satellites as well as the ground level data collected through surveys.

Berhampur had its last master plan way back in 1969 with focus on urban growth and provision of basic amenities for a population of over two lakh by 1986. But, the mission had failed. Again, the Brahmapur Development Authority (BDA) had tried to have a master plan for the city twice in 1998 and 2004, which could not materialize due to fund crunch and other reasons. Ultimately, the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) was provided the contract for preparation of a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) in 2008. During last four years, the technical officers and engineers of the TCPO have visited Berhampur several times and taken the satellite images of the region.

The present CDP, however, aims to provide urban development plan for the area now under the BDA which includes areas of urban bodies like Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chhatrapur and 139 adjoining villages. This would be part of the “Greater Berhampur” with a vision of development for next 30 years. The CDP would comprise a total area of 317 sq km having an estimated population of 5, 13,760 persons. Hence, the dream to form “Greater Berhampur” is soon going to be a reality. Notably, in December 2008, the State Government had declared Brahmapur as the third municipal corporation of Odisha and the gazette notification then had proposed for increase of the territorial ambit of the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC).

According to reliable sources, the proposed CDP has already identified the drainage, road, ring-road, by-pass road, Government buildings and earmarked each of these amenities in the plan including plan for expansion of road and removal of encroachments made in densely populated areas of the city. Experts suggest that the CDP would help to revamp Berhampur city into a modern metro city with state-of-art infrastructure, while others apprehend that after implementation of the CDP, encroachments made by many multi-storied buildings and commercial houses, more particularly in main roads and market areas, may face demolition and could become the victim of such modernisation or expansion, which will be known only after the full report of the CDP is received by the BDA and made public, feels a section of public. According to BDA Planning Committee member Raj Kishore Sahu, the regulation for the proposed CDP has already been finalised and will be shortly notified in the Gazette after due approval of the District Collector.

Source: The Pioneer

Mythological characters add colour to Thakurani Yatra in Berhampur

Thousands of people are congregating at the Desibehera street in Berhampur to witness the biennial Budhi Thakurani Yatra. Budhi Thakurani, the presiding deity of Silk City, reached her temporary abode at Desibehera Street on Friday and would return to her main temple on the last day of the yatra on April 29. To welcome the Goddess, a temporary 11-foot tall temple is constructed by hereditary craftsmen using casuarina logs and leaves. At the west-side of the temple a pedestal or the Simhasan is constructed to accommodate the Goddess. According to historians the preparations for the festival start from Shivratri.

The Desibehera (barber) goes to the Thakurani temple in the city and invites the Goddess for the festival. He also gets the Shubha Khunti or holy mast from the temple which is put in front of his house. As per the tradition on the day of start of festival Desibehera’s wife goes to the Thakurani temple with floral offerings. The offered flower, which falls from the head of the deity, is then brought back as the representative of the deity to the makeshift temple and is put in a ‘ghatam’ along with eight other ‘ghatams’. On the last day, the ‘ghatams’ return to the main temple in a large procession. During the celebrations all the streets of Berhampur wear a new look and people dressed in mythological characters move around the streets leaving behind a trail of religiousness in every nook and cranny.

The people dressed in mythological characters add zest to the festival. Earlier, the persons dressed as mythological characters had to beg from seven houses and offer whatever they collected at the Thakurani temple. Now it more of an easy income for the unemployed, said an octogenerian. This year, the district administration has deployed 11 platoons of police force and installed close circuit cameras in wake of the large crowd.

Source: New Indian Express

Source: The Sambad

More vending zones proposed in Berhampur

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has started work for establishment of a vending zone at Bijipur to rehabilitate vegetable vendors and fruit-sellers, said mayor Siba Shankar Das. Around Rs 13 lakh would be spent on the zone that would have 24 kiosks. The corporation has already constructed two vending zones at Kamapalli while work is on at Baikiuntha Nagar near Gate Bazaar. There is a proposal to build a vending zone at Goshaninuagon, the site for which has already been selected, the mayor said. Over 150 beneficiaries have been rehabilitated in the first phase, he said. For construction of the vending zone at Bijipur, notices were served on encroachers. The construction would start as soon as they vacate the place, said an officer of the corporation. Initially, it was planned to have 27 kiosks but was reduced after students of Khallikote autonomous college complained that the college gate from the backside would be obstructed by the shops. Source: Times of India

Berhampur, Sambalpur to get city buses by June

After successful operationalisation of the city bus service under JNNURM covering Bhubaneswar and Puri, the State Government has decided to expand the bus service to Berhampur and Sambalpur cities in a phased manner. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday asked the Urban Development Department authorities to implement the city bus service in Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Sambalpur town by end of June next. Patnaik, while reviewing the implementation of various packages announced for urban local bodies, asked the Urban Development department authorities to take necessary steps to operationalise the bus service in Berhampur and Sambalpur in line with Bhubaneswar. Sources said that as many as 50 buses each for Berhampur-Chhatrapur-Gopalpur-Hinjilicut and Sambalpur-Burla-Hirakud with separate SPVs are proposed to be set up soon.

Source: The Pioneer

Second Tuesday of Chaitra passes off peacefully at the Tara Tarini Hill shrine in presence of lakhs of devotees

The Second Tuesday (April 09, 2013) of the Hindu month of Chaitra passed off peacefully at Maa Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur in Odisha.

With the chanting of traditional Mantras on the midnight of Monday the festivals of the holy Tuesday started.  The priests performed the Snana, Majana and Maha Arati of the Goddesses at the midnight. After these traditional ceremonies the sanctum sanctorum of the Shrine, considered as the Sthana Pitha (Breast Shrine) of Adi Shakti, was thrown open for Darshan of devotees at 2 am in the morning.

During the Maha Arati festival at the midnight around 30 thousand devotees were present in the hill shrine.  Mr. Satyabrata Sahu, IAS Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Fisheries & ARD Department Government of Odisha including many other senior officials of the State Government, district administration, office bearers of TTDB and Tara Tarini temple administration were present during this occasion.

The Second Tuesday of this holy Chaitra month saw footfall of around 2 to 3 lakh devotees in the hill Shrine starting from the wee hours till late evening. Devotees waited in long queues to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Tara Tarini and offer prayers at the temple on the hill-top. 

People from every nook and corner of Odisha and far off places of the country and outside were present on the occasion.  

On this occasion more than ten thousand kids tonsured their heads as per the age-old tradition of offering hair of newborns after the first birthday at the Shrine for a blissful life.

TTDB arranged Khichdi Prasad of Maa Tara Tarini besides safe drinking water was distributed to the devotees.

As per the tradition around 3000 groups from different parts of the State cooked their food as an offering to the goddesses in the orchards at the foothill and had a day of picnic at the Shrine.

Heavy police deployment was made by the local administration to avert any untoward incident and control the large number of people gathered for the fair. The district administration made arrangements to control traffic in and around the shrine.

Police beat houses and temporary health centers were set up near the foot hill bus stop and at the Lions’ Gate of the shrine.

Six special buses were pressed into service to help the devotees reach the hill top. Arrangements were also made for special Darshan of Maa on the hill shrine.

However, in an unfortunate incident two devotees died during the Chaitra Yatra. Siddhant Behera (16) of Keshapur drowned in river Rushikulya during taking bath and K Rina Patra of Balarampur under Hinjilikatu police station died as a branch of a mango tree fell on her near Panthashala on the foothill of the shrine.

Two-Three lacs of devotees throng Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

Source: The Sambad 

Olive Ridley turtles at Rushikulya near Berhampur begin their sea-ward journey

Source: The Sambad

Thakurani Jatra in Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Thakurani Jatra enters third day; Ghata Parikrama begins from the Mahuri Royal Palace

Source: The Sambad

Thousands take holy deep in mythological holy river Rushikulya near Tara Tarini

Source: The Sambad

Night-long dharna over weightlifting hostel shifting from Berhampur to Bhubaneswar

Many persons of Berhampur city staged a dharna in front of the Berhampur stadium on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday to prevent shifting of equipment from the girls' sports hostel for weightlifting. The government recently decided to shift the hostel from Berhampur to Bhubaneswar. On March 13, sports persons staged a rally protesting against the government's move and submitted a memorandum to chief minister Naveen Patnaik through revenue divisional commissioner.

"As soon as we get information about the arrival of the truck to take away the equipment, we came to the Berhampur stadium and detained the truck," said BJP's town unit President Ram Kumar Patra. He along with several others staged dharna throughout the night in front of the stadium gate.

"The government has decided to establish a weightlifting academy at Gopalpur. The district administration has identified sx acres of land for the proposed academy," said district collector Krishan Kumar.

Comments (Times of India)

Anju (India)

Naveen Patnaik has in actuality gone mad. this government has done nothing for Berhampur region and now they are taking away one after another institutions of the city to the state capital. now the devil's face of this mad CM has come to the fore and in the forth coming election we will give fitting reply to BJD government and Naveen Patnaik

Odisha (Berhampur, Odisha) replies to anju

No doubt Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has gone mad but question is what the local leaders are doing? Why not the MP, MLA and Mayor of Berhampur protesting against this decision? Why not the leaders of BJD protesting against this decision? Opposition parties like BJP and Congress and the media should also protest against this anti Berhampur decision of the government.

vikas (Koraput)

Rightly said sir. Only a separate state will change the fate of this region. We want 'Kalinga State'

Naveen patnaik's foolish decisions (Delhi)

Naveen Patnaik led BJD govt. ditched the people of Berhampur and South Odisha many times. the recent incident shows the step-motherly attitude of the BJD govt towards Berhampur. now i realize why some people have been demanding a separate Kalinga Pradesh consisting ten districts of south Odisha..........if the govt will not change its decisions than a separate state for South Odisha (the erstwhile kalinga) is inevitable ....only a a separate state will change the condition of south Odisha..............

Ashok (India)

BJD Govt has gone mad for the development of Bhubaneswar at the cost of other cities of the State..

SURYA PRASAD (Bangalore)

bad..

The Carnival is back: Berhampur gets ready for Thakurani Yatra

Official website of the famous Berhmapur Thakurani Jatra (www.thakurani.com) 

City waits anxiciously to welcome the daughter

Month long festivity associated with this grand carnival to draw millions

The whole city of Berhampur has started to bear a festive look and its inhabitants were ready to have a sleepless night on Friday to witness the journey of goddess Budhi Thakurani from her permanent temple to her so called parental house at Desibehera Street. This journey would mark the ceremonial beginning of famous biennial Thakurani Jatra festival of Berhampur which would continue till her return to the temple on April 29 night.

According to some eminent historians, the cult of Buddhi Thakurani originated along with the emergence of Berhampur town in and around 1672 AD. Telugu Lengayat Dera (weaver) community, who came to Mahuri on the invitation of Raja Saheb of Mahuri to take up their profession of weaving, started their ‘Ghata Yatra’ (Pot Festival) for highlighting the divinity of Mahamayee Thakurani of his capital town Berhampur. The Chief of the Dera community, Kota Chandramani Kubera Senapati, led his community people to migrate to Mahuri and Berhampur who settle down into their hereditary profession of weaving tussar silken products or ‘patta matha’. The ‘Ghata Yatra’ was initiated for the purpose of highlighting the tradition of worshiping Thakurani as well as to use it as a platform for sales promotion of their silken products.

Inhabitants of the city have emotional linkage with goddess Budhi Thakurani, the reigning deity of the city. They consider the deity as a divine daughter of the city. Her journey to Desibehera Street is compared to that of journey of a married daughter to her parental home. Most families of the city including the children and women are ready to do away with their sleep to witness the procession to carry the ghatam representing the deity BudhiThakurani from her temple to her temporary abode at Desibehera Street.

R.Laxmi said, “How can we not remain awake on this night when our beloved goddess is making this journey to her parental home”. Similar was the opinion of Gouri Nayak, who has decided to witness the procession with her family. According to her this is a special occasion that provides a chance to enjoy life and festivity all through the night which she and her family cannot miss.

During the day the traditional hereditary head of the festival Durgaprasad Desibehera and his family reached Budhi Thakurani temple to ritually invite the deity to his home. They also reached the temple of goddess Sana Thakurani with similar invitation. Goddess San Thakurani is considered sister of goddess Budhi Thakurani. At the Desibehera Street the traditional makeshift temple was ready to greet the deity for her biennial sojourn. 

Source: The Hindu 

Source: The Sambad

MODI fever grips youths of Berhampur and Ganjam in Odisha

The Modi fever is slowly gripping the minds of large sections of youth in the silk city Berhampur and Ganjam district of Odisha as is evident from the sudden appearance of posters under the banner of Narendra Modi Youth Forum with Modi figuring prominently in the posters displayed in several key locations of Gandhinagar (Berhampur), Ganjam and Chhatrapur. It may be noted that about four lakh people from Ganjam District are working in Gujarat, most of whom consider Modi as their most favoured icon. When contacted, president and general secretary of Narendra Modi Youth Forum Dharanidhar Behera, former president of Ganjam Zilla Parishad, and advocate N Rajendra Kumar told this correspondent that they formed this youth platform in March last year to campaign  for Modi’s leadership, which is the only answer to the growing social insecurity, terrorism and plight of farmers in the country. A large number of local youth who believe in the ideology of Modi are keen to join the forum in the coming days, they added. 

Interestingly, appreciation for Modi’s personality, his vision and contribution to development became most visible even in the minds of small children. Satya Prakash Panda (Kaanha), an openhearted and soft-spoken boy of eight years and a student of Standard four at the Delhi Public School (Kalali) at Baroda in Gujarat during his visit to his native place Brahmapur in an informal chat with this reporter wanted to see Modi as Prime Minister. As to why Modi should be the Prime Minister, the boy swiftly recollected the contributions of Modi  in the field of communication in Gujarat and candidly replied that construction of an excellent road linked to the Ellora Park, uninterrupted power supply and a lot of other works impressed him most.

Source: www.narendramodi.in, The Pioneer