Budhi Thakurani, Berhampur

Budhi Thakurani is considered as the istadevi of Silk City Berhampur. As a child feels safe and secure in her mother’s lap, the inhabitants of Berhampur always have a secure felling under the blessings of Maa Budhi Thakurani. Therefore, the people of the city worship the deity with great reverence, devotion, love and affection and have strong belief on the Goddess as their guard wall.

Thakurani temple is situated in Old Berhampur. A large number of devotees visit the temple and worship to the deity inside the shrines is a piece of stone cut in crude fashion and smeared with sindoor and ornaments.

Like Tara Tarini Shakti, Peetha the temple presents a unique feature of close association of low caste and higher caste people of Hinduism. Here,the priests are barber by caste where as devotees come from all castes and class for darshan.

Berhampur Thakurani is famous for its two year gaped yatra. It is popularly known as Thakurani Yatra. It is a major festival of Berhampur city and southern Orissa as well. 

The month long home coming of the Goddess is celebrated with a great pomp. The Goddess is conceived as a daughter given away in marriage, visits her father’s house in every two years. Her presence at home is celebrated as the festival period.

During these days the town gets festive look and colorful. The chief attraction during the festival are the giant images of different goddess and mythological figures displayed in decorated pendals called Rathas, folk dance, tiger dance and veshas.