A two-day-long Pendrani Yatra of local deity of Umarkote began here on Monday with great fervour. A large number of devotees and tourists from all over the State as well as Chhattisgarh arrived at Umerkote to participate in the event. Security arrangements have been made for the Yatra to avoid any untoward incident.
locals believe that Maa Pendrani of Umerkote is born out of a legend. People of a small village Pendrahandi worship the soul of Pendrani, a married girl who was a victim of secret jealousy of her own brothers.
Her husband was overtly pampered by her parents who made him stay in their household with no work to bother about. The four brothers out of sheer jealousy conspired and succeeded in killing her innocent husband and buried him in their field.
Sensing a foul play, Pendrani could unfold the heinous crime and apparently jumped into her husband’s funeral pyre and perished in its flames. A few days later, her spirit was believed to roam in the village helping those who trusted her supernatural transformation.
People adore her sacrifice and worship her in a temple constructed at Umerkote. To pay reverence to Pendrani, locals observe a grand festival known as Pendrani Yatra.