Konark: Rituals on the occasion of ‘Magha Saptami’ were conducted at Chandrabhaga beach in Puri district Friday without devotees’ participation.
In order to avoid crowd on the beach in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 from Thursday 11:00 am to Friday 1:00 pm.
Going by the tradition, the three presiding deities of Konark, Tribeniswar,Ishaneswar and Dakhineswar were taken out of their respective temples in decorated palanquins at around 4:30 am. In a procession, the deities were taken to Chandrabhaga where they were given the customary bath.
The servitors then bathed in the sea and performed the Bahuda Yatra of the deities.
This year the Chandrabhaga beach bore a deserted look as every year on this occasion of Magha Saptami lakhs of devotees and hermits throng the beach to take a holy dip in the sea and offer prayers to the Sun God.
However, in order to maintain law and order situation and ensure smooth conduct of the rituals, as many as 14 platoons of police force, 60 police officers, five DSPs, 14 Inspectors, one additional SP, 200 home guards and 40 life guards were deployed in and around Chandrabhaga.
PNN
