Post News Network
10-day festival is taking place every year since
time immemorial
Bhubaneswar, Jan 24: The stage is set for the annual Khandagiri Mela to commence January 27 at the picturesque Khandagiri foothills. The 10-day festival which is held every year on the auspicious occasion of Magha Saptami, is being organised by local village communities and is believed to be taking place since time immemorial.
During the mela, the presiding deity of Khandagiri, Ananta Kesari Dev, is worshipped who resides in Jagamara village. Just before the mela, the deity is taken to the hills in a grand procession after which a holy fire (Yajna) begins.
Hundreds of temporary stalls will be erected on both sides of the road joining National Highway 5 to Khandagiri hills. Vendors from across the state converge at the festival where they sell handmade and readymade products.
Apart from shopping, visitors can relish a wide range of delicacies and enjoy performances by various theatre troupes which will prove to be the highlight of the fair. Six shows will be performed each day by around 14 theatre troupes that will be participating in the festival.
For the smooth functioning of the fair, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made all necessary arrangements.
Like every year, thousands of Hindu saints and pilgrims from across the country are likely to attend the festival this year too. The saints usually visit Chandrabhaga beach at Konark first, and after a holy dip there they proceed to Khandagiri to participate in the rituals of the holy fire on the hill, in a ritual that is believed to be held for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
It is believed that all diseases will be cured if a person takes a bath in Chandrabagha beach and then visits the Khandagiri hills on this occasion.
