Chandrapur: More than 50,000 devotees turned up in the wee hours of Friday at Minajhola, one of the prominent Shiva temples of Rayagada district, on the occasion of Mahashivratri.
While the confluence point of perennial rivers Vamshadhara, Phalphalia and Chauladhua resembles Triveni Sangam of Allahabad, the fish-shaped Shiva lingam between large size rocks near the meeting point is the main attraction of the site.
Every year, thousands of Shaivites visit the shrine as it is believed that the Lord fulfills the wishes of his devotees who worship him on this auspicious day.
A large number of devotees from all over the state as well as neighbouring Andhra Pradesh thronged the site before a day this year. They set up tents at both sides of the river and worshipped Lord Shiva at about 4 am Friday.
Three platoons of CRPF jawans and all the police personnel of Chandrapur police station were deployed to maintain law and order at the site. The number of visitors this year would definitely exceed 50,000, said Chandrapur IIC Laxminarayan Achari.
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWS&S) department kept ready water tankers in place to provide safe drinking water to devotees. Similarly, a free health camp was held under the supervision of local CHC in-charge Ashis Kumar Karji where medicines were distributed free of cost. ICDS-Chandrapur also put up a stall displaying nutritional diet, sattu and vegetables for children.
While bank officials launched an awareness drive over life insurance coverage, several local organisations chipped in to serve ‘Prasad’ to nearly 10,000 devotees.
Gunupur sub-collector Basant Kumar Sahoo, Chandrapur BDO Bikash Chandra Byne, Chandrapur CDPO Subarnamala Nayak, Gudari BDO Trina Majhi and Gudari CDPO Arati Rath were present on the occasion to ensure everything went off smoothly during festival.
