The Bam Barada Balunkeswar Baba of Nandapada, Sri Lokanath Baba of Jharuapada and Sri Jageswar Baba of Mudipara tied nuptial knot with Maa Parvati on Wednesday early morning in their symbolic fathers in law’s houses as is done in the normal marriages of the Hindu families.
But the marriages were performed strictly under the Covid guidelines since it is need of the hour. The most awaited divine marriage of Lord Siva with Maa Parvati got completed on the wee hours of Wednesday with religious fervour as per the Hindu tradition.
This is the day that the people here wait for as they take it as a good luck to don the role of father and mother of the Goddess Parvati, marrying off their divine-daughter.
The devotees in large numbers wait for the day to get their desires fulfilled with the ‘Jugal Darshan’ of the divine couple during this Sital Sasthi Yatra. This year, due to Covid restrictions, the usual gaiety and grandeur vanished from the event. The people here expected that the situation of 2020 would not repeat in 2021 but that didn’t happen.
Still people here continued the tradition and celebrated the event with complete devotion. “We have followed the guidelines very strictly. At the same time, we have not neglected to maintain the sanctity during the marriage as Lord Siva and Maa Parvati, otherwise treated as Purusha and Pakriti, are nothing but our heart and soul. We are playing the role of Kanya Pita and Kanya Mata (father and mother of Maa Parvati) just like actors and actresses in a play,” said Sumanta Swain and Bandita Swain.
The divine marriages were also completed in temples at Maneswar, Balibandha, Thakurpara, Barbazar and many other places of the town under equal guidelines.
But this year there will be no homecoming procession in the city which is another attraction of the Sital Sasthi Yatra, the committee members said.