BERHAMPUR: The 21-day Meru Yatra popularly known as ‘Danda Nata’ (the festival of penance) concluded on Maha Bishuba Sankranti on Tuesday.
Thousands of devotees gathered outside Danda Kali temples at Panigrahi Pentha, Diamond Tank Road, Bijipur, Ambapua and Ananda Sarani in the city to offer prayer and witness the final rituals of ‘Danda Nata’.
A gory ritual marks the end of Danda Nata. The ‘Pata Bhaktas’, who lead the ‘Danda Nata’ troupes, offer their blood as ultimate penance to the Goddess during the ritual. The Danduas, who led a life of extreme austerity for three weeks and became members of ‘Danda Nata’ troupes, ended their penance on the day.
The rituals that mark the final performance began with a ritualistic bath by the ‘Pata Bhaktas’. Then they were taken in procession to the Danda Kali temples by other ‘Danduas’. The ‘Pata Bhaktas’ were blind-folded and smeared with a paste made of turmeric and herbs. In the blind-folded state they were hung above a pit of fire upside down. They continued to remain in the position till three drops of blood fell from their noses into the fire. Thousands of devotees had gathered at the penance sites to witness the last offering of the yatra.
After the Meru Yatra, the ‘Pata Bhaktas’ would return to their homes and lead a normal life.
Hanuman Jayanti: Special arrangements were made near Hanuman temples in the city for Hanuman Jayanti celebration on the day.
Hundreds of devotees sat on the roads near Hanuman temples and recited ‘Hanuman Chalisa’. To manage the crowd, roads adjacent to the temples were closed for vehicular traffic.