Devotees throng Dhabaleswar Temple for Bada Osha today

Cuttack: Devotees thronged the Dhabaleswar Temple in Athagarh of Cuttack district to have darshan of Lord Shiva on the auspicious occasion of Bada Osha observed on 13th day of bright fortnight (Shukla Pakhya) in the Holy month of Kartik today.

Observing long hours of fast as mark of devotion towards Lord, the devotees were seen in a long queue to see glimpse of Lord Shiva.

Bada Osha is the festival of fasting usually observed for the well being and interest of self or loved ones.

The devotees both men and women observe fasting, abstaining from food and performing the rituals.

As per Hindu belief, Mahadev, who is God of destruction, had saved a thief, who had surrendered before Him at the shrine after stealing a cattle from a village. It is believed that the Lord protected the thief from the angry villagers by altering the colour of the cattle from black to white. The shrine was named as the Dhabaleswar Temple.

A special prasad ‘Gaja Bhog’ (a type of rice cake stuffed in moong, grated coconut and cottage cheese) is offered to the Lord in wee hours of Chaturdashi (14th day) on Bada Osha. The devotees break their fast after having darshan of the deity and Gaja Bhog in the early morning.

Similarly, special arrangements have been made at other temples of Lord Shiva for Bada Osha.

Meanwhile, the Muslim community of the country is observing birthday of Islamic prophet Muhammad on Eid-E-Milad-un-Nabi today.

A day after historic verdict on Ayodhya, the festival is being celebrated with much fanfare across the state and the country.