Panchuka 2021: Auspicious five days of Kartika month

Bhubaneswar: Panchuka is the last five days of the holy month of Kartika, during which most of the people in Odisha abstain from non-vegetarian food.

Panchuka in 2021 begins on November 15 and concludes on November 19.

Many devotees, especially widows, from all corners of Odisha flock to Puri for having darshan of the deities at the Shree Jagannath Temple on the occasion.

Those who are unable to follow the rituals during the entire month of Kartika, observe it during the last five days of the month.

Panchuka begins on Ekadasi day during the Shukla Paksha in Kartika and ends on Kartika Purnima.

The Puri district administration has made elaborate arrangements for managing devotees during Panchuka, this year.

As many as 20 platoons of police forces have been deployed in and around the temple. The queues of devotees will begin from Marichikot square.

Devotees have been asked to maintain social distancing in the queue and wear mask.

Three additional SPs, 10 DSPs and 30 inspectors will manage the three-layer security during these five days.