Jajpur: Lakhs of devotees thronged the banks of river Baitarani in Jajpur and took the holy dip at Dasaswamedha Ghat as Odisha’s own ‘Kumbh’ Baruni Mela kicked off in the district today.
As per the practice, people performed ‘puja’ for their forefathers in the presence of their priests and offered Pinda (rice balls) to the departed souls as a part of the Hindu tradition. Later they went to had darshan of the presiding deities at the temples located near the ‘ghat’.
Police administration made all arrangements to let the Mela conducted in hassle free manner and deployed additional forces at several places near the river.
It is believed that, offering ‘pinda’ to forefathers on the occasion of Baruni Mela brings Moksha (liberation) for them and taking ‘Baruni Snan’ (mass bath) at some specific sacred places in Baitarani purge devotees of all sins and diseases.
Baruni Snana is observed on the Trayadasi Tithi (13th day) of Krushna Paksha (dark lunar fortnight) in the Odia month of Chaitra (March-April), when sun enters Capricorn zodiac sign.
Kalinga AI