Odisha: Thousands throng Dhabaleswar shrine on first Monday of Kartika (Watch rituals)
Bhubaneswar: Thousands of devotees thronged Dhabaleswar temple, a famous Shaivite shrine, in Cuttack district of Odisha on the first Monday of the holy month of Kartika.
Long queues were seen at the entrance of the 10th century shrine, located on an island inside Mahanadi river, from the early morning.
Priests performed the Mangala Alati ritual of the presiding deity at 4 am today. Prior to this, the deity was given a ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of holy water, sources said.
The Cuttack district administration made all arrangements for smooth Darshan of the deity.
“Dhabaleswar temple had been shut for devotees during the holy month of Kartika for two years starting 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The devotees had faced inconveniences to visit the shrine due to certain issues pertaining to the hanging bridge over Mahanadi river during the Kartika month last year. This year, the devotees did not face any problem as a new concrete bridge connecting the temple with the mainland was thrown open for public around four months ago. We expect huge crowd at the shrine during the upcoming Bada Osa,” said Kirtikantha Patri, a priest.
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