ATHAGARH : Thousand of devotees visited the Shiva temple at Dhabaleswar that stands on an island in the middle of river Mahanadi on the occasion of third Monday of holy Kartik month. Apart from offering prayers to Lord Dhabaleswar, who was decorated in a special ‘besha’ with Nagalinga flowers, they observed Naga Chaturthi Brata on the day.According to reports, over 15,000 devotees crossed the suspension bridge, considered the country’s longest suspension bridge that connects the island with the mainland, to reach the temple. At least 5,000 more crossed the river Mahanadi in boats from Cuttack’s Bidanasi to reach Dhabaleswar.
The temple and local administration had made adequate arrangements for smooth conduct of rituals and ‘darshan’. Gurudijhatia police station IIC Anadi Charan Sethi oversaw the police deployment that included three platoons of force led by 10 officers in and around the temple.Apart from maintaining law and order, police assisted the administration in eviction of temporary vendors who had illegally occupied the approach roads to the shrine. Magistrate and local Tehsildar Binod Kumar Jena was present at the site of eviction.
Bada Osa on November 2
The Cuttack administration is gearing up for Bada Osa on November 2. A preparatory meeting chaired by Collector Susant Mohapatra was held recently to chalk out the modalities for the festival. The freight charges of registered boats that would ferry people from Bidanasi and Athagarh to the temple was fixed at `30 per person. For reaching the temple through the suspension bridge route, one would have to pay `2.
Similarly, opening of ‘bhoga’ shops, parking areas and parking fees will be regulated by the administration. As devotees will visit the temple in large number during Panchuka, various line departments were asked to ensure all required amenities for them. The Health Department authorities were asked to open first aid centres in and around the temple.
Cuttack SP (rural) and SDPOs of Athgarh and Tangi-Choudwar would monitor police deployment and the entire area will be under CCTV surveillance. Like last year, use of polythene would be banned in the temple. Fire fighters and scuba divers would be deployed at ferry ghats to rescue people in case of emergency.Last year, over seven lakh devotees thronged Dhabaleswar temple during Panchuka and Bada Osa.