Month long Thakurani festival comes to an end

Month-long Thakurani festival in Berhampur town came to end with the deity-Maa Budhi Thakuarani returning to own temple.
The procession of the return journey of the deity started last mid-night and reached the temple this morning as the famous biennial yatra came to a close after attracting a large number of devotees and visitors.
Braving the scorching sun, thousands of the people thronged the town on the last day of the festival yesterday, while several of them, including many from Andhra Pradesh waited till midnight to participate in the procession of the return journey of the deity.
Adequate force was deployed in the town to maintain the law and order situation and for crowd management, said Superintendent of Police (Berhampur) Sarthak Sarangi.

As many as five temporary outposts were functioning in different part of the town.
"We have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the peaceful passage of the procession that marked conclusion of the festival," said the SP.

Visit of deity to her father's house known as Desibehera was marked the festival. The historic festival had started on March 28.
While people attired like different mythological characters, animals and even Budhist monks were moving around various streets during the festival, chariots and kalakunjas with dazzling lights in different places in the town added glitz to the event. Over 70 different chariots and kalakunjas were set up this year, sources said.

Some of the organisers had focused on contemporary themes and social issues like chit fund scam and corruption in high places. Some others vowed before the goddess to quit consumption of tobacco, liquor and other narcotic substances. "We selected this issue as consumption of tobacco and narcotics is ruining the lives of many destroying families," said A Srinivas, one of the organisers.
Similarly, communal harmony and peace was also highlighted by some groups.