The Subhakhunti for the world-famous biannual festival Thakurani Yatra will be laid on March 12. Yatra preparation body chief P Durga Prasad Desibehera said as per an age-old tradition, people of the Dera community will march from the residence of Desibehera to the Maa Budhi Thakurani Temple to perform puja of the Subhakhunti.
The Thakurani Yatra is held in the Silk City twice in a year and according to the rituals, the Subhakhunti will be installed first after which the yatra dates will be announced. According to information available, initially two different dates were fixed to bring the Subhakhunti from the Maa Thakurani Temple to Desibehera Street. However, March 12 (Thursday) was considered as the most auspicious and accepted by the organisers. As per the advice of the priest, the time between 10 pm and 12.30 am is considered as the most auspicious when the Subhakhunti would be brought in a rich traditional procession.
Desibehera, along with members of his community, friends, relatives and committee members, including local people, will go to the sanctum sanctorum of Budhi Thakurani on March 12 night. After performing a puja, the Aagyanmala will be taken on a public procession to Desibehera Street where the Subhakhunti will be installed.
Around 20lakh devotees are expected to visit the month-long yatra from different parts of the country. Former Deputy Speaker and BJP spokesperson Ramchandra Panda urged the State Government and the district administration to make adequate provision of drinking water facilities and take security measures during the period of the yatra and more particularly for the smooth darshan of Maa Thakurani.