like every year, lakhs of devotees of lord Shiva are expected to throng the holy island shrine of lord Dhabaleswar (White lord) in Mahanadi river under Athagarh block in Cuttack district during the Panchuka, Bada Osha and Rasapurnima.
According to epics, Kartik is the most auspicious month in Odia calender during which most Odias shun non-vegetarian food and go religious.
Moreover, by doing the darshan of different Gods and Goddesses in the morning and evening during Kartik, people wash their sins off, believe the Hindus.Besides observing brata, lighting akashdeep and performing Bada Osha in the houses with utmost sanctity the devotees worship the lord.
Bada Osha is the greatest ritual of lord Dhavaleswar which usually falls on the third day of Panchuka. This year, it falls on Friday. This day, the lord is being embellished with white attire and white flowers and is served with all receipes of white colour in which famous are Gaja Bhoga (cake prasad) and Tarana-a liquid mixture of rice powder, sugar, gur, cocoanut etc in the midnight and lakhs of devotees observe it in their houses and Shiv templs with highest sanctity and devotion.
As depicted in Padma Purana, Indra had come to this shrine to get rid of the curse given by lord Brahma. According to the epic, Indra was inflicted with leprosy after being cursed by Brahma. He had been instructed by Brahma that he would be free from the effect of the curse after bathing in the Mahanadi ghat near Dhabaleswar temple on the fullmoon day of the holy month of Kartik. Since Indra had taken a holy dip near here, lakhs of devotees perform the same with the belief to wash off their sins.