Dhenkanal: Amidst COVID-19 fears, the popular ‘Magha Mela’ is all set to begin at the samadhi peetha of Mahima Gosain, the founder of Mahima cult at Joranda in Dhenkanal district Thursday.
Every year lakhs of Mahima Dharma followers, saints throng Joranda. But this year the festival is a low-key affair as the district administration has put some restrictions on the usual observance of the festival. The move came as the fear of the new strain of coronavirus is looming large.
This year, the presence of only 60 saints including those of the shrine and coming from other states inside the shrine is allowed. And at one go, only 50 persons can enter the shrine. This year, the Jhada Deepa (sacred fire) will begin at 5:40 pm.
For maintaining the law and order situation, under the active supervision of the SP, one additional SP, three DSPs, eight inspectors, 44 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, 50 constables, seven havildars, 120 homeguards, seven traffic policemen and seven platoons of OSAP force have been deployed at the fair ground.
That apart, sniffer dogs and bomb squads are also in place. District Collector Bhumesh Chandra Behera, SP K Siva Subramani and Sub-Collector Saphalya Mandit Pradhan had visited the place Wednesday evening to take stock of the situation. Steps for illumination and drinking water facilities have been taken.
The businessmen coming to the fair every year have been denied permission to put up their stalls or do business on the fair ground.
Because of all these restrictions, the shrine and the mela ground have borne a deserted look this year.
“This year no businessmen from nearby areas or from outside have come to Joranda. Similarly, saints from outside have also been denied entry into the fair ground. In a line, it can be said that the fair looks like devoid of its marked sheen,” observed Prashant Kumar Rout, sarpanch, Joranda.
“Since saints from outside have been denied from participating in the festival, there will definitely be the shortage of ghee as the lion share of the required ghee is donated by these visiting saints,” said Nityananda Das, senior Mahima saint.
Sub-Collector Saphalya Mandit Pradhan said, “For the smooth conduct of the mela, barricades have been put up, illumination has been done and availability of drinking water facility has been ensured. The mela is being observed in accordance with the state government’s COVID-19 guidelines. Similarly, COVID-19 tests of the local saints and followers have been done. All the steps have been taken for the three-day-long festival being observed without any problem.”
PNN
