BERHAMPUR: The sleepy islet of Kalijai on the picturesque Chilka Lake came alive today with thousands of devotees congregating for Makar Sankranti. Devout pilgrims and sundry holiday makers from the State thronged the place to offer obeisance to Goddess Kalijai the presiding deity of Chilka fishermen. The devotees come in droves on this day to take a holy dip in the lake which is considered auspicious. To facilitate smooth conduct of the festivity, local boatmen were engaged to ferry people from the shore to the island. The Tourist Department too pressed into service motor boats, deployed police and put in place rescue boats to avert any untoward incident. Elsewhere in Berhampur, women of Telugu community rung in three-day Sankranti festivities with colourful rangoli in front of their houses and lit traditional bonfire yesterday. Despite rain since last evening, people were out shopping and greeting people in their colourful best as the Telugu and Oriya populace joined hands to celebrate Pongal festivities. The Telugus form 38 per cent of the population of southern districts and it is around 40 per cent in Ganjam district itself. The celebration starts with Bhogi, the lighting of bonfire to mark the death of demon king Ravana and on the second day ‘shradha’ is offered to the ancestors while on the last day it’s time to feast. As a majority of the Telugu community is traders, most of the business establishments remained closed today. The Oriyas, for whom Makar Sankranti too holds similar importance, congregated at different shrines to offer prayers.
Source: New Indian Express
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