The district administration of Cuttack and local Athagarh authorities have geared up for a smooth observance of Panchaka and Bada Osa at the famous Dhabaleswar Temple.
Devotees in lakhs are expected to throng the Siva temple during the Panchaka in the holy month of Kartik. The famous Shaivite centre in the State perches on an island inside the Mahanadi river near Mancheswar village.
last year during this time, around seven lakh devotees had congregated in the shrine. Expecting arrival of many more devotees to the temple this year, the administration has put in place a well laid out plan for smooth darshan of the lord and crowd management.
As Bada Osa falls on the thirteenth day of bright fortnight of Kartik, the number of devotees swells on the day for having darshan of Badasinghara vesha of the lord. It is said that the darshan washes off all sins.
On the day of Bada Osa, the White lord (Dhabaleswar), decorated with white flowers and clothes, is offered a special cake made from rice powder called Gajabhoga. The Bhog is also of white colour which justifies the lord’s name. Special neetis (rituals) are performed on the day of Bada Osa and in the mid night the servitors offer Gajabhoga to the lord. In the dawn, the lord’s Prasad is distributed among the devotees.
According to Padma Purana, King of heaven lord Indra was cursed with Brahmasapa for killing demon called Namuchi and Indra had taken a holy dip on the day of Bada Osa in the Mahanadi water near the shrine of lord Dhabaleswar here to expiate his sin.
The district administration has termed Panchaka as Dhabaleswar Mahotsav and during these days different cultural programmes are performed in the shrine every evening. This year also similar cultural programme is on the cards.