Odisha gets into festive mood on auspicious Sital Sasthi

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Bhubaneswar: The entire state seems to be in religious fervour on the occasion of auspicious Sital Sasthi on Friday. This is observed to symbolize the divine wedding ceremony of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

It is observed on the ‘sasthi’ (6th day) during the ‘Shukla Paksha’ (the waxing phase of moon) in the ‘Jyestha’month of the traditional Hindu calendar.

Sital Sasthi is celebrated with immense pomp and gaiety all over Odisha, especially in the Sambalpur district. Sambalpur’s version of Sital Sasthi yatra is a popular event that attracts thousands of tourists from all over India and abroad.

Odisha gets into festive mood on auspicious Sital Sasthi

In this three-day festival, a family is chosen to play the role of Goddess Parvati’s family to propose marriage to Lord Shiva. Since Shiva is known as ‘Swayam Bhu’, no one plays the role of his family. The festival is attended by a large number of ‘Hijras’ and ‘Eunuchs’, as Shiva is also referred to as ‘Ardhanarishwara’.

As per the schedule for Sital Sasthi, at 9 am Parvati’s designated family take her from temple to their home. At 9.30 am ‘Rudrabhishek’ of Mahadev will be performed. At this time ladies play with turmeric or ‘haldi’. Putting turmeric on each other is an essential ritual of Sital Sasthi.

At 10.30 am, Lord Shiva’s ‘Shringar Besa’ will be undertaken. This will continue till 7 pm. After ‘Sandhya Aarti’, rituals particular to Shiva would be conducted.

Odisha gets into festive mood on auspicious Sital Sasthi

At 11 pm, Mahadev’s ‘Baraat’ or wedding procession will begin. The procession is supposed to reach by 3 am, after which the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati will be conducted as per Hindu rituals.

After the wedding, the devotees get to witness Hara-Parvati as a newly wedded couple for two whole days.

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