People of Sambalpur town are all set to celebrate the famous Sital Sasthi festival, which is observed to perform the celestial marriage ceremony of lord Siva with Devi Parvati on the Day of Sasthi.
The town has already worn a colorful look for the festival during which people and artists are expected to throng the city in thousands.
Various organisations and individual households are now busy to make the lord Siva- Devi Parvati wedlock a grand success at their levels.
“We are all set to perform the marriage ceremony. This is a golden opportunity for us as the Mother of the Universe and the Mahadev will be present for wedlock in our house with all gods,” said Pinky Mishra and Radheshaym Mishra, who are Kanyapita for the Thakurpada Mahadev Temple this year.
In their house, the first phase of the marriage ceremony, Patarpendi (wedding engagment) has been completed. Similar functions are being held in other homes where the marriage ceremony is being held.
Patarpendi and Dev Nimantran (invitations of gods to the holy marriage) have been completed in most of the temples and the households are ready for the marriage with their family and relatives.
“The marriage is performed exactly as it is done in the case of the human being but with a more touch of sanctity,” said Golak Behari Mishra, one of the organisers of the Gopalmal and Thakurpada Yatra committee.
As is seen, a mood of festivity prevails everywhere in the town now and the administration is on its toes for smooth conduct of the mass festival.