BHAWANIPATNA:Festive fervour has gripped Kalahandi district which is all set celebrate the famous Chatar Yatra of Bhawanipatna on Thursday.Following Sandhi Puja in the temple on Wednesday night, the ceremonial Chatar of Goddess Manikeswari will be taken out to Jena Khal on the outskirts of the town. After performance of secret rituals early on Thursday, the Chatar of the deity will be taken out in a procession accompanied by beats of Jena Badya, Ghumura, Nisam Ghanta and folk music.
The return journey of the Chatar to the temple is known as Chatar Yatra. During the festival, a large number of animals are sacrificed while devotees also release doves for fulfillment of wishes.
Sources said a large number of devotes from outside the district and State have arrived in the town to participate in the yatra. The district administration has made elaborate security arrangements for smooth conduct of both Chatar Yatra and Maha Astami Puja of Goddess Durga. In Bhawanipatna, 10 platoons of police force have been deployed. Moreover, five DSPs, 17 Inspectors and 30 SIs have been assigned to ensure smooth management of parking, traffic and celebrations.
In the town, four police control rooms have been set up and CCTV cameras installed at different strategic locations in the 4-km long Chatar Yatra route. This apart, the district administration has taken up awareness drive to prevent animal sacrifice during the yatra.Meanwhile, the Maha Saptami was celebrated in different Shakti temples and puja pandals on Wednesday. A large gathering of devotees was seen in Dakhina Kali and Tarini temples of Bhawanipatna, Manikeswari temple of Thuamul Rampur, Lankeswari and Kanaka Durga temples of Junagarh, Dokri temple of Talgud and Ambaji temple of Kesinga.