The mass festival Sital Sashti that marks the celestial occasion of divine marriage of Maa Parvati with Lord Mahadev began in Sambalpur with traditional fervour and gaiety.
Though the marriage of Siva and Parvati is organized everywhere in the State but the uniqueness of Sambalpur is totally different and it has turned to be a mass festival with wide coverage in the recent days.
The organizers are also leaving no stone unturned to make it more attractive and pious so that it could attract more people.
“Earlier the festival was limited within three Paras –Nandpara, Jharuapara and Modipara. But in recent days it has spread to all other temples of the city and suburbs out of devotion and love for the holy occasion," said Iswar Chandra Nayak, one of the main functionaries of the Yatra Samanway Samity.
Patarpendi ritual which marks the beginning of the marriage was completed on Monday night in Bam Barada Balunkeswar Baba of Nandpara and Gudeswaar Baba of Durgapali and it was to be celebrated on Tuesday night also in some other paras.
Celebration and devotion apart, ritual Patarpendi has got direct attachment with nature and mother earth as the groom side confirm the marriage proposal by giving a bunch of ‘Sargi Patar’ (leaves of Sargi) to the bride’s parents.
Sargi leaves play a vital role in confirming marriage of Prakriti and Purusha, and Patarpendi is a ritual in all places where such divine marriages are organised.
By giving a bunch of Sargi leaves to the Kanyapita ( symbolic father and mother of Maa Parvati), Prakash Pandey and Kadambini Acharya of Sakshipara, the father of groom Ram Charan Mishra, and all the seniors of the Nandpara confirmed the marriage proposal and requested them to go ahead for the marriage as per the Hindu rituals.
Similar thing has also taken place in Gudeswar Temple as mark of confirmation of marriage the Lord with Maa Parvati.