State celebrates Chhatra Yatra

The Statesman, Oct 9, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA, Oct. 8: The famous Chhatra Yatra of Goddess Manikeswari was held here today amidst traditional rites and rituals. More than two lakh devotees from the state as well as from neighbouring states congregated at the temple to take part in the celebrations.
The Chhatra Yatra is one of the major Yatras in the state and many claim that it is second only to the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath of Puri.
After performing the traditional Sandhi Puja in the Manikeswari temple on Mahastami night, the ceremonial Chhatra of Goddess Manikeswari was taken to Jenakhal, about three kilometres from of the town where secret rituals were performed in the early hours of Mahanavami. During the return journey, with the thrilling beats of the Jenabadya, Nisan, and Ghanta the Deity was accompanied with dancers performing Ghumura, a traditional martial dance form. Devotees followed the Deity and made offering as a mark of the fulfillment of their wishes. The devotees also released hundreds of doves into the air in the name of the deity during the celebrations. At the main gate of the temple, the Maharaja performed a puja and received the Chhatra from the priests and took it inside the temple. n sns