More than five lakh devotees thronged Joranda, 26km from here to witness the world-famous Mahima Mela that began on Sunday. The festival would continue for seven days.
Meanwhile, Mahima saints from 58 ashrams of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh and Japan have reached here. The saints, both from the State and outside, usually get accommodation at Talamula mutt, Natima mutt, lata Ashram, Patna mutt and Jamusara mutt.
Worshipping of the shapeless god started at 5pm on Sunday with the recital of Mahima Alekh after the saints cleaned the Gadi Mandir, Jyothi Mandir, Sunya Mandir, Bati Mandir, Dhuni Mandir and Ekosihatia Mandir with sacred water carried by silver pots. The open space near the Gadi Mandir was decorated with brash chandlers and umbrellas made of silver and gold.
A dharma Sabha was held at the Bhajan Mandap near Jyothi Mandir on the occasion with Sreemad Radhunath Baba of Kaupini Dhari Mahima Samaj presiding over it. Orators spoke about the message of Mahima cult to the society which is leading towards violence.
larger numbers of visitors have gathered the spot this year in comparison to previous years. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagabat is expected to reach Joranda on Wednesday to address the Dharma Maha Sabha.
The district administration has deployed adequate police force and bomb detecting squads to avert any untoward incident. Apart from arrangement for uninterrupted power supply and water supply, temporary barricade have been erected at the north and west doors of Gadi Mandir as the south and east doors are used for the exit of devotees.