Come Bisuva Sankranti, 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 Friday night 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’ on Saturday.
The Mela, an annual phenomenon is said to have originated here some 200 years ago. The participants, called Patuas and there is no caste bar.
The festival is an unique festival in Odisha 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.
Peaceful Event
Despite a stampede on Thursday night during the offering of ‘Bhakti Argya’ in which 30 devotees were injured, the ‘Pata Parva’ was peaceful on Saturday. Administration had taken all measures to make the event incident free.
As last year a scuffle had erupted between devotees and cops during ‘Mala Chandani’ ritual (smearing of sandalwood paste and white mud on each other) which led to police lathi-charge leaving 40 injured, this year only smearing of sandalwood paste was allowed.
