Finally, lord Shiva returned home with wife Devi Parvati from his father in law’s house after the marriage, marking end of the Sital Sasthi Yatra of the year on Wednesday.
A large number of people thronged the town to have Darshan of the ‘Jugal Mutry’ (lord Siva with Devi Parvati), otherwise called as Siva and Shakti or Purusha and Pakriti, on this auspicious occasion.
To give relief to people from the sizzling heat, Sambalpur town received showers of rain drops on Tuesday night and cloudy weather through the Wednesday.
“The mammoth procession the lord’s home return is worth seeing in Sambalpur. A devotional procession like this is not seen anywhere in the country,” said Pandit Amarnath Mishra of Jharuapada.
He said though Siva Bibah is celebrated all over the country and many other places of the State, the one held at Sambalpur is unique.
loknath Baba of Jharuapara, Balunkeswar Baba of Nandapara, Jageswar Baba of Modipara and all other Gods reached their respective temples after moving round the city by the evening. The devotees welcomed the homecoming of the lords in much serenity.
On the other side, the relatives, family members, Kanyapita and Kanyamata were in pitiable condition at the departures of their daughter (Maa Parvati) with lord Siva. This is called as ‘Kanya Bidai’ here. “Even if it not the real girl member of the house, the situation is equally sorrowful,” says Pinky Mishra, Knyamata of Gopalmal.