The famous Bada Osa and Panchuka (last five days of holy month of Kartik) fair of Lord Dhabaleswar near Mancheswar village of Athagarh block would be observed with much pomp and gaiety this year.
A preparatory meeting was held recently in the temple premises, presided over by Cuttack DM Arvind Agarwal in presence of all line department staffers, members of servitor society of the temple and mediapersons. The meeting declared that this year Panchuka would be observed from November 19 to 23 and Bada Osa of the Lord would be performed on November 21 at the shrine.
In the dawn of November 22, the famous Gaja Bhoga and Tarana (liquid cake made of rice powder, sugar and required spices) Prasad of the Lord will be distributed among the devotees.
The Lord will be decorated in Badasinghara Besha on the day of Bada Osa and will be given darshan to the devotees. As lakhs of devotees throng the shrine during Panchuka, the administration has taken certain precautionary measures to make the fair hurdle free.
Last year over five lakh devotees had thronged the shrine during Panchuka and this year the administration expects more than the number of the last year. As the temple is situated in an island in river Mahanadi, the devotees can reach the shrine either in waterways from Bidanasi side of Cuttack or through country’s longest suspension bridge connected from Mancheswar village to the shrine. But this year the administration has decided to stop boat service from the Bidanasi side. So the service will be available from the Mancheswar only.
The administration has decided Rs 20 as freight charge of boats to and fro for every passerby through waterway to reach the shrine and Rs 2 for passing the suspension bridge. Small country boats would not be allowed at any cost in the ferry ghats. Life jackets to passersby through boats will be mandatory. Fire brigade staff and ODRAF teams would be deployed at the ferry ghat to assist the boatmen in their work to avoid any untoward incidents. At least 56 sections of police force will be deployed for smooth conduct of the fair, said SP (Rural) Madhab Chandra Sahoo.
The Dhabaleswar Seva Sanstha will organise Bhajana programmes in every evening of Panchuka in the shrine. Temporary first aid centres and information centres will be opened. Besides, uninterrupted power supply with generator facility, safe drinking water, sanitation of the shrine would be ensured.
Approach roads to the shrine would be repaired by the Works department ahead of the fair. Several NGOs and NSS and Red Cross volunteers have given consent to assist in the law and order of the fair.
DM Agarwal inaugurated a website on the Lord, www.dhabaleswar.org, from which all information can be gleamed.