BHAWANIPATNA: The Chatar Yatra of Goddess Manikeswari in Kalahandi concluded on Friday, drawing a congregation of around four to five lakh devotees from outside the district and neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
Following the Sandhi Puja at the temple on Thursday night, Chatar of Goddess Manikeswari was taken to Jena Khal on the outskirts of the town. Secret rituals were performed at around 4.30 am on Friday, after which the return journey of the Chatar began with the presence of servitors.
The procession accompanied by traditional instruments like Jena badya, Ghumura, Ghanta and 35 different folk cultural troupes, created a thrilling experience for the devotees who had gathered since early morning. Due to the crowd, the Chatar’s journey took over eight hours to cover three-kilometre distance, reaching the temple around 12 noon.
Despite appeals from the district administration and police to avoid animal sacrifices, thousands of devotees, following age-old beliefs and traditions, sacrificed goats along the Yatra route as a mark of fulfilling their wishes. Despite awareness drive, goat sacrifice in Yatra route was held unabated. However, devotees also made other offerings such as coconuts, and many released doves as part of the ritual.
