Polythene, liquor to be banned at Tara Tarini fest

Tara-Tarini Temple, Odisha

Use of polythene and consumption of liquor would be completely banned during Chaitra festival at Tara Tarini hill shrine this year. It was decided at a preparatory meting for the festival, which was chaired by Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Bikash Mohapatra, who also happens to be the president of Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), new Ganjam Collector Prem Chandra Choudhury as well as officials of different departments. The Chaitra festival at Tara Tarini hill shrine would be held on five consecutive Tuesdays starting from March 18.

A large number of devotees visit the hill shrine during this time. Last year over seven lakh devotees had visited the hill shrine during the Chaitra festival. The TTDB authorities feel their number may increase this year. The Tara Tarini hills shrine had faced severe impact of Cyclone Phailin. So, basic restoration work is on to provide required amenities to the devotees visiting the shrine. As all rest sheds at this hill shrine have been destroyed by the cyclone, both at the hill top and downhill, the TTDB has decided to make alternative arrangements. According to secretary of the TTDB, Pramod Panda, around thirty tents would be put at different places at this hill shrine to provide shelter to the visitors.

It was also decided to protect the environment of this hill shrine through complete ban of polythene at the shrine and its adjoining areas during the Chaitra festivities. Apart from it sale of liquor would also be stopped in this area from Monday evening to Tuesday evening during the Chaitra festival. Sulabh International and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) departments would be in charge of maintenance of sanitation.

To provide adequate quantity of water to the visiting devotees, ten tankers would be used. They would be procured from Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur as well as different urban local bodies in Ganjam district. The ropeway to the top of the hill shrine which had been devastated by the cyclone last year has been restored. “But the operator of the ropeway has been advised to procure new fitness certificate before the Chaitra festival,” said an official. The stairs to the hill top as well as the roads to it have also been renovated for the festival. The bank of Rushikulya river that flows along the Tara Tarini hill has been eroded for a stretch of over 100 meters near the hill shrine. So, it has been decided to deploy Odisha Disaster rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel at this stretch to avoid any mishaps. Source: The Hindu