Amidst a stream of devotees pouring in from distance parts of the country for a glimpse of the Goddess, Lugu Buru, the two day long 18th Luguburu Ghantabari Dhormgrar Mahadharam festival concluded here on Friday with observance of the traditional worship of Luguburu.

As many as 50,000 participants from India and abroad came for the two-day 18th  tribal International Sarna Mahadharam Convention, which started on Thursday at Lugu hills in rebel-hit Gomia of Bokaro, 70km from district headquarters.

Addressing a gathering at 18th Luguburu Ghantabari Dhormgrar Mahadharam  festival, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said, “The government has already been given the status of state event and definitely will be developed as a place of cultural and spiritual center. On prior occasion also many politicians have visited Lugu Buru but our government has accorded the status of State Event to the function.” Das further said “I came here for blessing of Mangra Guru who will bless entire Jharkhand. Government has plans to develop the place as tourist spot. Government has already provided Rs 50 lakh for those people who could not reach here due to their financial crisis.”

Organised every year by tribal outfits at Lugu Buru Ghanta Bari, famed as the site where tribal guru Lugu Buru spent 12 years in meditation with his disciples, the event was accorded the Status of a State Festival by the government last year. Lugu Buru, who Santhals consider their founding father, predates Christ. The main events, prayers and religious discourses, take place at and near a cave atop Lugu hills, which is a steep 7km climb.

This time, representatives of tribes from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, as well as from various parts of India such as Odisha, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, and from within Jharkhand, came for the two-day event.

On Thursday, participants took a dip in the nearby Charcharia canal, considered to have divine powers to cure ailments. The canal never dries up. Participants also prayed at the cave.

 On Friday, tribal religious leaders held discourses on living in harmony with nature. Mukhiya of Lugu hills region Bubli Soren, who chairs the puja organizing committee, said the government arranged buses under Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana to ferry pilgrims from Bokaro to Lugu hills. Massive tents have been erected on the hill for pilgrims with lights, drinking water, toilets, among others. Those who were took part in the festival were BJP MP Ravindra Kumar Panday, JMM supremo Sibu Soreon, Ghatsila MLA Laxaman Tuddu, Bokaro DC, Mirtunjay Kumar Barnawal, SP, Kartik S and dozen other officials.