Berhampur Thakurani Yatra 2013 to be celebrated between 5th and 29th April

-->

Invitation Ceremony at Bada Thakurani Temple

Traditional biennial Berhampur Thakurani Yatra 2013 is scheduled to be celebrated for 25 days between 5^th and 29^th April. The dates for conduct of the Yatra is finalised sometime in Phalguna (February-March), soon after Maha Sibaratri and such dates are announced with fixing of Subha Khunta at the main Yatra site. This time Subha Khunta was fixed on 18^th March night.

Wife of Desi Behera carries the basket

Goddess at the temporary abode

            Debanga, a weaving community originally migrated from Rajmahendry in Andhra Pradesh to Berhampur about 240 years ago organise the Yatra. An elected head of the Debanga community invites Bada Thakurani (Goddess), the reigning deity of Berhampur to a temporary abode at the busy market place Desi Behera Street in Bada Bazar which was once thickly populated with the weaver’s families. The journey of Bada Thakurani from the temple to the temporary abode and back along with touring all the Debanga settlements which were joined by devotees in large numbers turned out to be a carnival in due course of time.

            Bada Thakurani’s journey to the temporary abode was celebrated on 5^th April and early hours of 6^th April. Certain rituals were observed for the invitation ceremony. All the members of Debanga community, who are connected with the Yatra fasted throughout the day on 5^th April. The head of the community Desi Behera along with his wife visited the temple of Bada Thakurani during noon time to procure permission for extending invitation. They also visited the temple of Sana Thakurnai (situated at Sub-Registrar Office square) who is considered the younger sister of Bada Thakurani with similar request.

            This year, at the early hours of 6^th April, Saturday by 12.15 AM Desi Behera, his wife proceeded to Bada Thakurani Temple with invitation along with thousands of devotees. The procession reached the temple at 1 AM. Desi Behera’s wife took a garland of Itamalli flower placed inside a Handi (earthen pot) in a bamboo basket to the temple which was placed on the head of the deity. After performing puja and certain rituals the garland was taken back to the temporary abode which is symbolically considered the goddess’s visit to Desi Behera’s place. The procession from the temple started 2.10 AM and reached Desi Behera Street around 3.10 AM. The ceremony marked the beginning of biennial Berhampur Thakurani Yatra for 2013.

-->

PHOTOGRAPHS BY : Srinivas