Marked by devotional celebrations and with the presence of lakhs of devotees, the month-long Chaitra Yatra at the Tara Tarini Shakti Pith in Ganjam district came to an end last week. The chanting of religious hymns in the spiritual ambiance of the Hill Shrine and the ritualistic worship of the devotees throughout the month charged the atmosphere.
So far as the Chaitra month is concerned, in India's national civil calendar it is the first month of the Hindu year. This month is also associated with the coming of spring season and, therefore, Holi, the spring festival of colours, is celebrated on the eve of Chaitra throughout the country.
The first day of Chaitra is widely celebrated as the Hindu New Year's Day (Varsha Pratipada), known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Chaitrai Vishu or Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The Chaitra Yatra is celebrated at the ancient Tara Tarini Hill Shrine every year during the early spring season that falls in the month of March/April. This year’s Yatra commenced on March 27 and concluded on April 27. Thousands of Sadhus, Sanyasins, Devi Sadhkas and devotees thronged the shrine for divine blessings of Maa Tara Tarini.
like the other Tuesdays of the month, there was also a heavy rush on the fourth and last Tuesday at the shrine. Darshan for the devotees started in the sanctum sanctorum after the Maha Arati at around 3 am and continued up to late evening. During the Maha Arati, thousands of devotees were present at the shrine.
It is notable that all the Tuesdays of Chaitra are the days of celebration at this shrine, and devotees gather in lakhs to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Tara Tarini to get rid of their difficulties and accomplish their worldly desires. On the last Tuesday, the devotees waited in long queues Darshan of the Maa throughout the day and offered prayers. Besides, more than 10,000 kids got their heads tonsured at the shrine for a delightful life.
The Tara Tarini Development Board arranged Khichdi Prasad for lakhs of the pilgrims, special buses to reach the shrine and barbers for the Mundan (shaving) ceremony for the babies, besides safe drinking water supply.
like the other Tuesdays, thousands of families and groups cooked foods as offerings to the goddesses in around two square km orchards of the foothill area after “fulfilment” of their desires and had a day of picnic. An ardent devotee of the Holy Mother, V Karthikeyan Pandain, Personal Secretary to the Chief Minister, is taking personal interest in development of the shrine. Over 10 lakh devotees paid obeisance on the four Tuesdays of this Chaitra and another five lakh pilgrims visited the shrine during the other days of the month.