Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): Amid the COVID-19 protocols, Maa Manikeswari’s Chhatar Jatra, a divinity gripped Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district on Wednesday. The Western Odisha town’s reining deity ventured out of her abode for her annual sojourn called Chhatar Jatra.
Normally lakhs of devotees witnesses the divine rituals each year. However, this year due to Section-144 restrictions enforced by the district administration, devotees are barred to notice the festival town.
The initiative has been taken by the district admin to restrict the further spread of Coronavirus.
Reportedly, the prohibitory orders have been enforced from 8 pm on Tuesday till 4 pm on Wednesday. Apart from that, to ensure the strict compliance of the protocols, all the entry points to the town have been sealed and 10 platoons of Police forces have been deployed to deal with any possible law and order situation during the Jatra.
As per the long-followed customs at the shrine, Maa Manikeswari is taken out of her temple for this divine journey on the eighth day of Shukla Paksh (Astami) in the month of Ashwina.
The deity was taken to Jenakhala in the suburbs of Bhawanipatna at midnight yesterday after completion of ‘Shodasa Puja’ ritual.
While animal sacrifice is a major part of the festival as thousands of devotees sacrifice animals during the Yatra, Kalahandi Collector, Gavali Parag Harshad has discouraged public to stay away from the practice.
