Around five lakh devotees from across the country rushed to the main shrine of the Mahima cult at Joranda during the annual Mahima Mela which began on Magha Dasami and concluded on Magha Purnima on Friday.

Mahima saints from different ashrams in Odisha and 58 branches across India, Nepal and Bangladesh reached the main shrine with their annual collections in order to meet the huge expenses needed for organising the Mela.

The saints were accommodated at lata mutt, Dadhisingha mutt, Jumusara mutt, Jatia Baba ashram, Talamula ashram, Matha mutt and Chakradhar Baba mutt. Apart from Indians, foreign devotees from France, Germany and Italy also thronged the fair ground and enchanted Mahima Alekh, when the saints of Bakaldhari and Kaupunidhari.

Mahima Samaj lighted the brass chandeliers (Jhadas) at about 5 pm on the Magha Purnima. The brass chandeliers were lighted after completion of the routine morning, midday and evening alati held at the Gadi Mandir, Jyothi Mandir, Neeti Mandir, Surya Mandir, Dhuni Mandir and Veka Mandir.

Bakaldhari Mahima Samaj chief Pabitra Mohan baba lighted the brass chandelier at the Gadi Mandir, while Kaupunidhari Mahima Samaj chief Raj Kishore Baba did it at the Akhanda Jyothi Mandir. The Mahima saints poured tonnes of pure ghees in the chandeliers, with recital Mahima Alekh in order to keep the lamps lighted throughout the night.

A group of male and female Mahima devotees was seen dancing with recital of Khanjani and singing the devotional songs of Bhima Bhoi. The Mahima saints as usual distributed ‘Amanhia’(Prasad) among the devotees.

Mahima Swami who propounded the Mahima cult had appeared in the later half of 18th century when the lower caste people were mentally and physically tortured by kings, zamindars and brahmins.

Due to hatred and harassment by the upper caste people, the lower caste people were largely embracing Christianity. At this critical juncture, Swami made the SCs, STs, Dalits and neglected section his disciples.

 On his way to village Jaka in Gondia block for preaching of Mahima cult, he had rescued Bhima Bhoi from a pothole. Finally, Swami selected Joranda as his permanent abode in 1974. His followers started the Mahima Mela at Joranda in 1876 after the Swami’s demise.