Lakhs of devotees from across the State besides neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand paid obeisance to the divine couple Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati after their marriage on Saturday. The deities will enter their respective temples on Sunday, Saturday being Sankranti.
Intermittent rain failed to deter the spirit and rather added to the festive mood even as people kept thronging to Sambalpur till late hours to have a glimpse of the homecoming procession of the divine couple.
Marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is called Sital (cool) Shasthi and is held on the sixth day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of ‘Jyestha’. The festival is celebrated to usher in much-awaited monsoon after month-long blistering heat. Considered to be the biggest cultural carnival in Asia, more than more than 6000 artistes from across the country had been invited to participate in the Sital Sasthi Carnival.