Odisha Govt to set up multi skill development center at Berhampur

Having set the target of training 1 million youths in various employable skills in coming five years, Government of Odisha has now initiated steps for establishment of international standard Multi Skill Development Centers (MDC) in the state. A high level meeting to this effect was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik in secretariat conference hall recently. The proposal for setting up of MDCs in the state was discussed in the meeting and it was decided that two such centers one at Jatani Khurda and the other at Berhampur, Ganjam will be set up in coming years.

Sources: Orissa Diary & Pragativadi

Harihar Dash steps into Canadian theatre

25-year-old dancer to trot the globe to perform for Cirque Du Soleil

After a tryst with films, dance sensation from Berhampur city Harihar Dash is set to showcase his skills on the international stage. The ace dancer will be soon trotting the globe to perform for theatre company Cirque Du Soleil. The Canadian theatre company, which has branches in 22 countries across the world, got in touch with the 25-year-old for a fusion composition that will have a blend of Indian dance forms along with strong presence of Western contemporary styles. “I was asked to compose a two-minute sequence on a Beatles’ song fusing Indian and Western dance forms,” said Dash, whose forte is locking and popping and hip-hop. “The expert panel at Cirque Du Soleil liked the video and that is how I got this opportunity to be a part of the theatre company, which has the best dancers in the world in its troupe,” Dash said. Looking forward to the experience, Dash feels there is much he will get to learn during his one-year stint with the theatre troupe that performs at major events throughout the world. “From Hollywood’s top film and album choreographers to dancers, I will get a chance to meet many seasoned and expert performers and will try to learn more about new dance forms. I’m thrilled about the opportunities in store with this project and wish to enhance my skills in the craft,” he said. Dash will first be trained in the Montreal set-up of the theatre company after which he will join the Las Vegas unit of the entertainment production house. However, his journey with Odia films will not take a backseat, said the dancer turned actor. “I am currently busy with a project that will be released in three languages including Odia. The shooting will take some more time but since I will be leaving in June, I will try to complete the film so that I have a good project this year,” said Dash. Dash is both the male lead as well as the choreographer of the upcoming film.

Source: The Telegraph

Ravi Kumar aims for medal at London Olympics

International weightlifter K. Ravi Kumar of Berhampur qualified yesterday to compete at the London Olympics. The 23-year-old weightlifter, the only from Odisha to enter the Olympics league, is vying for a medal at the apex-sporting event to start from July 28. Ravi got a qualification slot for the London Olympics games in the 69-kg category. “I stood sixth in 69-kg category in the Asian Qualifying Tournament held at Seoul in South Korea and qualified to take part in the London Olympics. I lifted a total of 335kg in clean, jerk and overall weight,” said Ravi, who is suffering from a muscle injury on his left shoulder. “I will definitely try to bag a medal in London Olympics. Though the Olympics record in 69-kg weightlifting is 346kg overall and 358kg in world championship, I have in mind to lift more than 335kg in overall weight,” Ravi said. On asked whether the injury on his left shoulder will anyway affect his ambition to bag an Olympics medal, Ravi said: “Not at all.” “Prior to the Asian Qualifying Tournament held at Seoul, I underwent a spot injection on my shoulder to step forward. Fortunately, there is no problem on my shoulder now and I am temporarily relieved,” he said.

Ravi said he is practising seven hours a day to achieve his goal. “We will take parte in the Commonwealth Championship at Samoan islands situated in the Central South Pacific from June 4 to June 8 prior to the London Olympics,” he said. K. Suryakanta, the proud mother of Ravi Kumar, is happy after her son qualified for the mega-sporting event. “Ravi will definitely bag a medal in the London Olympics. There will be other senior weightlifters in the Olympics than my son, who not only is young but also suffering from shoulder pain. But, I am sure that he will definitely bring a medal for India with the blessings of the almighty and the people of the country,” Suryakanta said.

Source: The Telegraph

Berhampur University holds its 17th convocation



Source: The Hindu

• Berhampur University celebrated 17th convocation on May 02.
• Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, Member of National Planning Commission, Syeda Saiyidin Hameed, senior advocate Iqbal M. Chagla, Puri MP Pinaki Mishra and spiritual guru Chandrabhanu Satpathy were awarded LLD.
• The honorary degrees were also conferred on former chairperson of the National Commission for Women, noted social activist and the daughter-in-law of the former president VV Giri, V. Mohini Giri, Berhampur MP Sidhant Mahapatra, sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik, Sambad Editor Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and famous cardiologist Kabi Prasad Mishra.
• Degrees were also awarded to 9,500 students and DLitt, PhD as well as DSc to 188 researchers                                                                                 
• Berhampur University celebrated its 17th convocation on Wednesday. During the occasion nine eminent people were conferred honorary LLD degree while one was honoured with DSC degree. Member of national Planning Commission, Syeda Saiyidin Hameed, who was the chief guest of the occasion, was conferred with honorary LLD degree.  The honorary degrees were also conferred on woman activist V. Mohini Giri, Berhampur MP Sidhant Mahapatra, sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik, Odia newspaper editor Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and cardiologist Kabi Prasad Mishra. Four others — leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, senior advocate Iqbal M. Chagla, Puri MP Pinaki Mishra and spiritual guru Chandrabhanu Satpathy — were awarded the degree in absentia. Besides, degrees were awarded to 9,500 students and DLitt, PhD as well as DSc to 188 researchers.

During her address Ms. Hameed stressed on the need to redefine development in the context of social justice. “Have the indicators of growth in the GDP gone together with an upward movement in the indicators of human development?” she asked.

Odisha governor and chancellor of the universities M.C. Bhandare said Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri districts, under the jurisdiction of Berhampur University, had shown an improved literacy rate. “Each district except Malkangiri has bridged the gap between male and female literacy during 2001-11. The university has evinced a keen interest in implementing the Gyanalok programme launched by me to find out reasons for the high dropout rate among the tribal girls and create awareness among the marginalised sections,” he said. University vice-chancellor J.K. Mahapatra said they had planned extension activities and outreach programmes by way of establishing Centre for Extension Services on Coastal Zone Management and Awareness Programme for Women Empowerment with funding from the University Grants Commission.

It may be noted that Berhampur University was established in 1967 and had only 11 colleges under it during its inception. Now colleges under the university have gone up to 136. It is one of the few universities in India to offer courses on military sciences.
Source: The Hindu & The Telegraph

156-year-old school in Berhampur city renamed after former president V V Giri

Former President of India VV Giri

A 156-year-old high school, one of the oldest for girls in Odisha and Eastern India functioning in the ancestral house of former president late V V Giri has been renamed after him. It may be noted that former president of India V V Giri hailed from Berhampur and was also the first Labour Minister of the country in the cabinet of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

"It will be a great honour to the former president, who hailed from Berhampur," Odisha Governor M C Bhandare said after renaming the Government Secondary and Training School in Berhampur city on May 02.

This was the first educational institute in the town named after V V Giri, while Berhampur Municipal Corporation had earlier named a road and a market after him. "We are very happy as one of the oldest institutes was named after the former president," said Sharataran, niece of the former president. 

V Mohini Giri, former chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), noted social activist and the daughter-in-law of the former president, was also present.

The house had been handed over to the government at a nominal rate.

The present institute had started as an elementary school in 1856. It was elevated as Middle English school and later became a girls’ high school. A secondary training school was set up in 1928. It is noteworthy that the remaining portion of the the ancestral parental house of the former president late V V Giri still stands adjacent to this oldest girls' Secondary school in Berhampur, Odisha.

Source: Business Standard, Press Trust of India, ToI & The Hindu 

Berhampur Municipal Corporation libraries buried in heaps of neglect

By: Sisir Panigrahy

Books covered by layers of dust and in disarray, the rich variety at four libraries maintained by Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) often go unnoticed by visitors. Several books are in dire need of restoration, new ones are unavailable and there isn’t enough staff. Since many of the books are early editions, conservation techniques need to be updated, said sources. The air conditioners, TVs and computers at these libraries are non-functional. The generators hardly have any fuel to run. Computerized bibliographies in these libraries are a dream for the readers.

One of the BMC libraries, located near the Berhampur Press Club, is frequented by readers. However, this one is dogged by problems of poor maintenance - just as most other public libraries are in the city. The library has two halls which are insufficient to accommodate the growing number of readers. On an average, over 200 people visit the library daily.

Although BMC supplies 12 newspapers and over 20 periodicals every month, no new titles have been purchased yet. The library manages with its 7,000 old books that have been there since its inception.

The BMC also owns a research library established in the name of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati. Books and encyclopedias worth Rs.2 lakh were brought to the library when it was opened in 1993.

Since then no new books have been added to the collection. Because of its poor upkeep, the research library’s popularity is on the wane.

Intelligentsia said although BMC collects tax from people, no concrete measures are being taken for maintenance and development of the libraries. They have demanded the State Government’s intervention to establish a well-furnished library in the city. Source: IBN Live

Sparrow conservationists of Ganjam invited to help in sparrow conservation efforts in mining areas

Sparrow conservationists of Ganjam district in Odisha have been invited to help in sparrow conservation efforts initiated in a mining area at Tensa in Sundergarh district.

Rabindranath Sahu of Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee (RSTPC), Ganjam and Lingaraj Panda, who played a major role in the successful sparrow conservation project at Purunabandha village in Ganjam district, have visited the area in Tensa. The authorities of the Jindal Steel and Power Limited has invited them for tips regarding sparrow conservation.

The mining colony, which has been recently adopted as home by the sparrows, is a part of the Tentra-Raikela-Bandal (TRB) mines of Jindal Steel and Power Limited. Company senior general manager Mahesh Raheja has said around 150 families stay in the mining colony which was established in 1992. A few years ago, all of a sudden a few sparrows were found at the colony. Sparrows are a rarity in this mining area located in the middle of dense jungle.

Number increased

According to Mr. Sahu, a few sparrows may have reached this human habitat by the trucks that ply to the area carrying essential goods like food grains. The inhabitants of this mining colony through their small efforts protected the sparrows. And now their number has increased many folds. Arun Kumar Kumar Mishra, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Banai, has also taken personal interest to enthuse the inhabitants of the colony to continue the sparrow conservation efforts. Mr. Mishra and Mr. Raheja have taken the tactical support from the team that had become successful in sparrow conservation at Purunabandha. The special artificial earthen pots, which the sparrows are adopting as their nests in Purunabandha in Ganjam district, have also been put at the mining colony.Mr. Sahu has said sparrows have started to stay in some of the artificial nests put at the mining colony. At present the sparrow population at the mining colony is around 300. If the conservation efforts continue, then their number will surely increase many folds, says Mr. Panda.

Source: The Hindu

Classroom teaching goes hi-tech at Berhampur city Kendriya Vidyalaya

Blackboards in classrooms will soon be replaced with interactive boards at three Kendriya Vidyalays in Odisha under the e-classroom project launched by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) in 50 KVs in India. The three KVs in Odisha are Berhampur, KV No.1 in Cuttack and KV Sambalpur. There are 55 KVs in Odisha.

At least ten classrooms of each of these schools (one section from Class III to XII) will be equipped with the necessary gadgets and hardware, which will be provided by the KVS. The students will sit in the e-classroom to interact with their counterparts and teachers of other KVs through the electronic-comprehensive teaching and learning tools (E-CTLT).

"It will enable students to interact with students of other Kendriya Vidyalayas. It will also make them tech-savvy. The classrooms will be highly equipped when all the necessary gadgets are installed to launch the e-classrooms," a senior teacher of KV Berhampur said. "We are ready to roll out the project very soon. Our teachers have already been trained at Mumbai and Mysore, while some other teachers are undergoing training," said K P Dash, principal-in-charge, KV Berhampur.

Source: The Hindu

City buses to hit Berhampur roads

Source: The Sambad

Olive Ridley turtles at Rushikulya mouth in Ganjam

Source: The Sambad

Gopalpur Port to start cargo handling from next year

The proposed all weather Gopalpur Port is expected to start cargo handling from its newly constructed berths from 2013 with construction of three berths - one for coal, one for iron and a multipurpose one. It was declared during a review meeting regarding the progress of the project. This meeting was attended by State Minister for Commerce and Transport Sanjeeb Kumar Sahu, Secretary of the Department Gagan Dhal, director of Ports and Inland Waterways and Transport, Subrat Raut, administrative officials of Ganjam district including Collector Kishen Kumar, Managing Director of Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) Mahimananda Mishra, directors of GPL Charchit Mishra and M.M.Moharana. The State Minister and dignitaries visited the construction site of the port. They also visited the breakwaters being constructed for the all weather port. It may be noted that the GPL has constructed one 670-meter-long backwater to the south of the port as well as another 360 meter-long intermediary breakwater.

The state government on this occasion promised to provide land needed for the expansion of the Gopalpur port. "We will provide the required land to Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) very soon for the expansion and development of the all weather direct berthing port," said state transport and commerce minister Sanjiv Sahu, after the review. The GPL requires around 783 acres of land for its phase-II and stage-I construction, which is scheduled to be completed by March next year. While around 393.67 acres of land has already been handed over to the GPL, the remaining portion, including 130 acre private land, will be acquired soon. "We hope the land handover process will be completed very soon to pave way for the construction of the port," the minister said. 

Berhampur University plans to introduce four new courses

BERHAMPUR: Berhampur University has sought funds for the establishment of four new departments under the twelfth plan (2012-17) of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The proposed centres include Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies (CSSEIP), Centre for Coastal Research (CCR), Centre for Extension Services on Coastal Zone Management (CESCZM) and Awareness Programme on Women Empowerment (APWE). The five-year plan proposal of the university was submitted to the UGC last week as per its guidelines, university sources said. "Since the central government has laid thrust on mainstreaming of disadvantaged people in the society and inclusive growth through education, the university has proposed setting up of the CSSEIP to undertake studies about the area, particularly the southern Odisha districts," said vice chancellor J K Mohapatra.

The southern Odisha districts are mainly inhabited by people from economically weaker sections of the society. Literacy rate and growth rate of Gross District Domestic Products (GDDP) are also poor in this region. "The university has to play a role in mainstreaming the disadvantaged people. So we have sought to establish the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies," said register B P Rath. Similarly, the university wants to establish the Centre for Coastal Research to undertake research and training in coastal and ocean science. The university has a department on marine science. The proposed Centre for Extension Services on Coastal Zone Management, university authorities feel, will create awareness on Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and help explore possibilities of development of economic condition of the fishermen across the state. Under the UGC's new research initiative, the university has proposed to set up the APWE to create awareness about programmes on women. The proposed centre would function under the Women's Study Research Centre (WSRC) of the university, sources said.

Source: Times of India

New cricket stadium planned for Berhampur

Barracks Stadium, Berhampur

The Ganjam District Cricket Association has taken steps to construct a cricket stadium, a training centre for children and four turf pitches in Berhampur. “This year, we are going to celebrate the association’s silver jubilee and our priority is to build a stadium exclusively for cricket,” said president of the association Ramesh Patra, who was elected unanimously for another four-year term this month. The association will build turf pitches at four places — Khallikote College, Berhampur Stadium (Barracks), MKCG Medical College and Hospital playground in Silk City and Sanjaya Memorial Institute of Technology at Ankuspur, located near Berhampur — for the benefit of aspiring cricketers. The cricket association would soon sign a MoU with the authorities concerned to build the turf pitch, Patra said. Patra said that though a turf pitch at Barracks Stadium  in Berhampur was built last year for the budding cricket players of Ganjam, it was damaged about a fortnight later because an athletics meet was held at the same venue. The district administration must take steps to preserve and look after the pitch until a stadium meant exclusively for cricket was built, he said. 

“The association proposed to set up a stadium and academy over 18 acres at Aruapalli near Berhampur. It will also provide a sophisticated bowling machine for the young players,” Patra said. “The bowling machine will help young players of the district to improve their bowling, batting and fielding skills. Youngsters can practise even during the off season once the machine is installed here,” he said. 

“The association is taking steps to organise national events, including the Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and Ranji Trophy matches at Berhampur,” said Patra. There will be a permanent coach of the Sports Authority of India in Ganjam by next June. Anup Patra, vice-president of the Odisha Cricket Association, said the body had now decided to set up an academy and a turf pitch in every district of the state. Ajit Kumar Mishra, sub-collector, Berhampur, said the district administration would ink an agreement with the association to construct a turf pitch at Berhampur Stadium.

Source: The Telegraph

Sea erosion destroys turtle eggs in Rushikulya river mouth near Berhampur

Berhampur (Odisha): A large number of eggs of Olive Ridley turtles were destroyed due to sea erosion in the mouth of Rushikulya river near Berhampur city in Odisha's Ganjam district where the endangered sea species nest. "We think around 10 to 20 per cent of eggs were washed away due to the sea erosion," divisional forest officer, Berhampur AK Jena said.

Around 1.06 lakh eggs were laid by Olive Ridley sea turtles in the Rushikulya river mouth, one of the nesting sites in the state in February.  Very few Olive Ridley turtles had nested in the place, where largescale sea erosion was taking place, DFO said. Local activists, however, said around 50 per cent of the eggs washed away in the high tidal wave.

The sea erosion took place just ahead of their hatching. The hatching is likely to be taken place in the second week of this month, about 45 days of the nesting, experts said. "As a large number of eggs destroyed due to the high tidal wave, this year very few hatchlings are likely to emerge from the eggs," said an expert.

Instead of their traditional site, the Olive Ridley turtles had nested in a new site, measuring about two-km near the river mouth. The new site is like an island and very vulnerable to sea erosion, DFO said.

He said the forest officials were waiting for the baby turtles, which are likely to emerge from the eggs from April 15 to 20. ? We will take steps to protect the baby turtles by deploying forest staff and volunteers in the area? he said.

Besides the famous Rushikulya river mouth, other famous nesting sites of the Olive Ridley sea turtles are Devi river mouth and Gahiramatha of Odisha coast.

Source: Zee Tv

City bus service mooted for Greater Berhampur under PPP

Source: The Sambad

State urged to take up Mahanadi-Rushikulya river linking project

River Rushikulya (Source: Flicker)

‘Rushikulya Bachao Manch (RBM)' has urged the State government to initiate the process to link the Mahanadi and the Rushikulya rivers on its own. According to RBM, the project is not having any legal or technical stumbling block. “The Supreme Court has opined that the Central and State governments should give priority to implementing the river-linking project and the pre-feasibility report of National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is also in favour of the Mahanadi-Rushikulya river linking from Baramul,” says RBM chairman Ram Chandra Panda. Mr. Panda, who was the former deputy speaker of the State Assembly, has been making the demand of RBM to link the Mahanadi and the Rushikulya rivers since 1986.

Total cost

As per the pre-feasibility report of NWDA, the total cost of link canal to connect the two rivers from Baramul is estimated to be Rs. 3806.61 crore. Annual cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs. 402.43 crore, while its annual benefit from irrigation, power and municipal use is worked out to be Rs. 412.88 crore. Seven villages with population of 1331 are likely to be affected by the barrage to be constructed at Baramul.

Irrigation

The proposed link canal is to start from proposed Baramul barrage on the Mahanadi river.

The link canal would irrigate 1,00,000 hectares in Nayagarh, Khurda, and Ganjam districts.

Power generation

The project also envisions annual power generation of more than 373.30 megawatt. The RBM activists say the State government has also committed in the State Assembly to take forward the Mahanadi-Rushikulya river linking plan. “Now it is time for the State government to keep up the promise and start work on the project as soon as possible,” says Mr. Panda.

Source: The Hindu

Berhampur University becomes first in Eastern India to introduce written test & interview for recruitment of lecturers

Those interested to work as a lecturer in Berhampur University would now have to undergo a written test besides facing a face-to-face interview. Berhampur became the first varsity in the state and perhaps very few universities in the country to conduct both written test and interview to select candidates for the posts of lecturers. The syndicate of the university, in a resolution, suggested the vice-chancellor to hold written examination in recruitment of the lecturers. The apex decision making body of the university however authorised the vice chancellor to take such decision of conducting of the written test for the aspirant posts of the lecturer before appearing for interview. The syndicate's decision in this regard was to ensure quality education in the university by recruiting good teachers. The decision, however, will be only applicable for the recruitment at the level of the lecturers, but not for the posts of the reader and professor. Vice Chancellor J K Mohapatra welcomed the decision of the syndicate. "It was an unanimous decision of the syndicate and I welcome it, which will ensure recruitment of good quality of the teachers in the university," he said.  The university will soon issue advertisements for filling 25 teaching posts in different faculties, including lecturers, readers and professors, university sources said.

Berhampur University convocation on 2^nd May

Berhampur University will hold its annual convocation on May 2. It will be attended by Dr Syeda S Hameed, Planning Commission member. This was decided by the university Syndicate on April 1. This time, the varsity proposed to confer LL.D on 10 eminent persons and D.Sc on cardiologist Kabiprasad Mishra. The proposed list of LL.D includes Mohini Giri, Arun Jaitly, Sudarsan Patnaik, Justice Dipak Misra, Dr Syeda S Hammed, Iqbal Chagla, Pinaki Misra, Chandrabhanu Satpathy, Soumayranjan Patnaik and Sidhanta Mohapatra.

Sources: Times of India, Indian Express & IBN Live

CAG slams the Government for the delay in the proposed Sanskriti Bhavan project at Berhampur

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India took potshots at Odisha government for failing to execute two projects, announced by the tourism and culture department almost seven years ago. Though the proposed Kalamandal project, involving establishment of a multi-purpose cultural complex in Bhubaneswar was mooted in 2005, it is still stuck in limbo. Likewise, the proposed Biju Patnaik Sanskriti Bhavan project at Berhampur, announced in 2005, remains a nonstarter till date. According to the CAG audit report, placed in the Assembly last week, the construction of building for Biju Patnaik Sanskriti Bhavan at Berhampur is yet to start even seven years after laying the foundation stone by chief minister. The culture department in January 2004 decided to set up the Bahvan on 1.253 acre land. During a survey in December 2008, it was found that the site was situated in a low-lying area filled with garbage and sewage water, due to which the soil strata had disintegrated. "It is the initial failure of the director, culture to inspect and survey the site properly leading to the blockage of Rs 1.35 crore," the report said.

Source: Times of India

Month long Chaitra Jatra ends at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine as faith enlivens tradition

With the chanting of the holy names of Maa Tara Tarini, recitation of hymns, Mantras and Jagna on the Fourth Tuesday, the month long Chaitra Jatra came to an end at the famous Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur in Odisha. Considered as one of the biggest religious fairs in India, the Chaitra Jatra at this hill shrine has centuries old history behind it.  

It is noteworthy that of the 4 Adi Shakti Peethas and other major Shakti Peethas in India, it is only in the Tara Tarini Peetha, considered as the Sthana Pith (Breast Shrine) of Adi Shakti that the Chaitra Jatra is held over the entire month of Chaitra whereas in most other shrines it is held for just one day or the Nine days coinciding with Navratra culminating on Ram Navami.

Source: The Sambad

On the last Tuesday, following the age-old traditions, the Sevakas opened the sanctum sanctorum of the temple past the midnight on Monday. After Snana (the divine bath), Majana and Maha Arati the Amruta Kalasha or the first Bhoga was offered to the goddesses at around 3.55 a.m in the morning. Then the goddesses went for a Parikrama of the temple. After the completion of the Parikrama, large number of devotees who gathered on the hilltop to take the first glimpse of Maa were allowed for Darshan. The Darshan continued non-stop till the late evening of Tuesday.   

Like other Tuesdays of this month, around two to three lakh devotees gathered on the fourth and last Tuesday of Chaitra month in the Shrine. The large gathering of devotees and their prayers filled with emotion and enthusiasm surcharged the atmosphere of the ancient Shrine.

Around one thousand barbers were engaged in tonsuring the heads of around five thousand newborn babies on this occasion.   

As per traditional beliefs devotees preferred to climb the 999 holy steps to reach the hill top though transportation facilities to the hill top by Arial Rope way and special Buses were made available. They climbed 999 steps as a penance to get the blessing of the deities.

As per initial reports, so far around 20 lakh people have visited the shrine for Darshan during the month, including the four Tuesdays.

People from far off places like North and South India and from the neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, many Sadhakas from the Tara Pith and other famous Shakti Shrines of India, many Buddhists and Hindu researchers from Nepal and many people from abroad were present during the Chaitra Mela.  

A unique feature of this Shrine is that large number of people flocked to the Shrine from various nearby villages in their bullock carts along with their kith and kin. There were also large number of people seen feasting all across the Shrine as a thanksgiving gesture to the Goddesses. The fair comprising rural artisans had large number of buyers and onlookers. Many devotees who could not take the pain of reaching the hilltop made it a point to worship the sacred Ratnagiri Mountain (Tarini Parvat) from a distance.

It may be noted that over the years the number of visitors to this hill shrine have been growing steadily during this Chaitra festivals. As a result, large number of visitors and mainly the elderly persons who find it difficult to reach the hilltop by taking the overcrowded steps and special buses generally prefer the aerial Ropeway to the hill top which is first of its kind in Eastern India. But, the capacity of the existing aerial ropeway is limited. So, sensing the need to accommodate the ever increasing number of devotees, the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has decided to raise the capacity and frequency of Aerial rope-way service in collaboration with ‘USHA Pvt. Ltd’ a reputed Rope Way service provider in the country. It is expected that by this time next year the carrying capacity of the Aerial rope Way will increase many folds.      

On the occasion of the last Tuesday the District administration, Temple administration and Development Board made wide range arrangements like drinking water, Prasad, Transportation, Primary health care facility, traffic control, and police deployment for peaceful Darshan of the devotees. The office bearers, volunteers of the TTDB, different NGOs, voluntary organizations, media houses, corporate houses and local residents extended their helping hand through out the month to the devotees who came from various parts of the country. 

Visitors throng Tara Tarini

Some eight lakh visited the shrine during four Tuesdays of 'Chaitra'

Over eight lakh pilgrims visited Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district during the four Tuesdays of the Hindu month of Chaitra. 
On Tuesday which was the fourth and last one of the month, around two lakh devotees visited the shrine. Visitors in large numbers thronged the famous Shakti shrine from the wee hours till late evening. Devotees started thronging the spot from Monday night.......................... Link..The Hindu
The annual festivities pass off peacefully
A few projects were inaugurated during the festivities 

Ganjam Culture: Danda Jatra

Source:  The Sambad