Thousands of devotees thronged the famous Gangeswar temple at Matanagar under Salepur block to burn Chunga (small shallow earthen pot) and participate in the traditional Jhamu Yatra on Monday. The devotees observe Jhamu Osha (a kind of fasting) to worship lord Shiva and Goddess Parbati. They also burn Chunga and offer its holy smoke to get blessings from the god and goddess.
Members of about 200 local potter families will get a chance to make a good business this time. Irrespective of age and gender, they engage themselves in making Chunga and also collecting Jujube tree wood before a month. “I take Rs 10 to Rs 15 for facilitating a devotee to burn Chunga and get an income of up to Rs 1000 in the stipulated time,” said one Kalpana Behera (34), a housewife, adding that they often reuse the earthen pot.
The rituals of burning Chunga and offering its smoke to the God and Goddess is believed to be derived from a traditional tribal culture some 400 years ago, said Damodar Kar, a priest of the Gangeswar temple.