Cuttack: The Panchuka of Baba Dhabaleswar of Athagarh in Cuttack starts today. Devotees thronged to Baba Dhabaleswar’s shrine to witness his ‘Ashutosh besha’ on the last Monday of Kartik according to Odia calendar today.
Popular belief goes that, offering prayers to Baba Dhabaleswar today frees one of his sins. The rituals started as early as 3:00 am. At first, Lord Dhabaleswar was bathed with 108 pots of floral water and special oils were applied to him. After that Mangal arati was conducted and devotees were allowed to offer prayers and witness the ‘Ashutosh Besha’.
The temple administration had made all arrangements for the peaceful movement of the devotees. After the building of the concrete bridge communication for them has become a lot easier. On either side of the bridges, police force was deployed for the maintenance of law and order.
