Kendrapara: Tradition continued in all its glory in this part of the state with thousands of people of the Bengali community thronging the goddess of snakes, Manasa Devi, Wednesday.
The devotees offered garlands of currency to the idol of Manasa Devi on a floating raft on the banks of Mahanadi on the auspicious day of Kanya Sankranti as per the Bengali almanac.
The festival was observed with religious fervour in the coastal village of Barakolikhola.
The Bengali community of Mahakalapada and its adjoining areas upheld the 44-year-old tradition. The devotees whose wishes were fulfilled with the blessings of goddess offered currency garlands to the deity.
“Manasa Devi is the presiding deity of the Bengali fishermen community. The villagers worship the goddess to save their lives from snakes and to get blessings of the deity,” said Natha Kumar Bhola, a villager.
Like every year, this time too, the rituals were performed at two places — the temple altar and the floating raft. “The raft set afloat on the Mahanadi is perhaps the only floating sanctum sanctorum in the world,” said Anjan Samal, a local.
Keeping in mind the huge rush, strict police arrangements were made, said SP Niti Sekhar.
PNN
