BALASORE: Come Bisuva Sankranti (the first Oriya month that falls between April and May), the premises of Chandaneswar temple in Balasore district come alive as lakhs of devotees throng the Shiva temple to observe a unique celebration called ‘Chadak Mela’ wherein hundreds of them walk along the temple premises seeking blessings from the Almighty.
Penance and discipline shields their body against the scorching heat as they move out in processions by piercing their bodies with nails and dancing barefoot under the hot sun. For their devotion towards the God, they do not experience pain.
The festival is observed in two phases - ‘Nila Parva’ and ‘Pata Parva’. ‘Nila Parva’ concluded on Sunday with the secret marriage of Lord Shiva while in ‘Pata Parva’, the Patuas (devotees) get nails pierced into their bodies and move out in processions. Over two lakh devotees witnessed the ‘Pata Parva’ that was observed on Tuesday.
In fact, the celebrations start a month before Bisuva Sankranti. ‘‘The Yatra, an annual phenomenon is said to have originated here some 200 years ago and is famous for Chadak Yatra. The participants, called Patuas are usually those who have taken a vow to participate in the Yatra for the fulfillment of their wishes. There is no caste bar,’’ said Bibhudutta Misha, a priest.
The Patuas wear saffron coloured clothes and stay away from their families while worshipping Lord Shiva for a month. They take vegetarian food only once a day. Despite the strict conditions, the number of participants has increased over the years. This year, over 65,000 devotees had registered their names to offer puja.
During the Yatra, the chief Patuas are transported to a spiritually enchanted state. The Patuas seem to gain a lot of energy during this period.
‘‘I have been participating in this unique festival since last five years. As I have the blessings of Lord Shiva that is why I don’t feel anything at the time of piercing my body with nails,’’ said Santosh Maity, a devotee.
The festival is an unique festival in Orissa as unlike other Shiva Pithas, fishes are sacrificed here in Chandaneswar Shiva temple.
‘‘Animals are often sacrificed at the altar of Shakti pithas. But here in the Shiva Pitha, two big gadgon fishes are sacrificed to appease demon princess Kamina whom Shiva marries secretly once in a year,’’ said chief priest of the temple Jayram Panda.
‘‘According to Markandeya Purana, moved by Kamina’s devotion Shiva blessed her to fulfil her desire to marry him. Every year we take out the Lord in the form of Kalasa and solemnise the marriage during night at Hakanda pond, one km away from the temple. Then he returns back to the temple and fishes are sacrificed as an offering to the demon princess. Next day the Lord takes a bath in the sea and the temple is purified,’’ he added.