The residents of Sambalpur have to wait for another year to have the rare Darshan of the divine couple of lord Sivas and Maa Parvati , since the grand celebration of Sital Sasthi came to an end on Tuesday with the Dev Dampati entering their respective temples.
However, the grand procession with nearly 10, 000 artists from all over the country and a few from abroad, was the specialty of the current year. “Such mega congregation of artists was never seen earlier,” said Amulya Kumar Mishra and Abhisek Mishra of the Nandapara and Jharuapara Yatra committees.
It was seen that the scorching heat of nearly 41 degree Celsius could not dither people from their devotion to the lord. “Those who came to Sambalpur on the occasion of Sital Sasthi was because of their devotion for the Dev Dampati and also to have their blessings. Entertainment is just a secondary thing,” they claimed.
The people were seen with folded hands before the lord and saying their prayers.
The procession began towards the midnight of Monday and just with brakes for a few hours continued till late in the evening of Tuesday. Traditionally, the priests of the respective temples took lord Mahadev and Jagajjanani Maa to their respective places in the temples and women in good numbers, at this point of time, were seen seeking the blessing of Dev Dev Mahadev and Jagajjanani Maa Parvati. “All my desires have been fulfilled by the blessings from Bholanath and Maa. I am a poor lady. But the blessings of the lord enabled me to do my duties for my family and children,” said Parvati Panda with tearful eyes. “I came to the Yatra to see my lord, not anything else.
I have taught my children in similar lines too,” she added. This year mega marriage celebrations have been solemnised in almost 15 temples of the city with all sanctity and gradually more people are showing interest to become Kanya Pita (father of the Maa Parvati) and perform the holy duty of ‘Kanyadan’.