A marriage without guests is just next to impossible. This also aptly applies to the marriage of the deities at Sambalpur where Dev Dev Mahadev will be tying the nuptial knot with Maa Parvati on the day of Sital Sasthi.
And for this divine marriage, invitation to guests has been completed on Monday night. As per tradition here, after the Patar Pendi of the am Barada Balunkeswar Baba in Nandapara temple, Sri Nrusingha sets out for Deva Nimantrana (invitation to gods) on a well decorated chariot. And the invited gods are Madanmohan, Dadhibaban, Satyabadi, Bata Mangala, liakhai, Bariha and all other deities of the town.
Sri Nrushingha moves round the city with the devotees on a chariot and reaches the temples of the gods and goddesses.He offers them Gua (betel), coconut, flower and invites them to the marriage. This particular ritual is called ‘Gua Gunda’ here.
Needless to mention, different cultural and dance troupes accompany Sri Nrushingha during his journey to different temples for the Deva Nimantrana. And the eunuchs (called as Ranga in local language) dance all through.
And the gods and goddesses not only accept the Nimantrana (invitation) but also accompany the Deva Dampati (divine couple) in the home coming procession after the marriage.
The lord’s marriage here is no way different from that of the human beings, where the guests and invitees lso carry important roles and are treated with utmost respect.