Post News Network
Baripada, Jan 17: Damodar Mela of the tribals in Mayurbhanj district kicked off Sunday at Baruni ghat of river Budhabalanga. The fair, which will go on for three days, assumes much importance for tribals as they immerse the ashes of dead persons in the river during the festival.
Not only tribals in Mayurbhanj, but also those living in the entire north Orissa, neighbouring Jharkhand and West Bengal throng the site. Thousands of people thronged the ghat for mass immersion of ashes Sunday.
As per tradition, tribals preserve the cremains of the dead till this festival when they set afloat the urns at the confluence of rivers Budhabalanga, Jarali and Sarali. They believe that the souls of the dead persons rest in peace after their ashes are immersed in the holy confluence.
Earlier, tribals used to go to Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, for which they had to cough up a lot of money.
Taking note of the miserable condition of tribals, the erstwhile Mayurbhanj king had brought some soil and water from the Triveni Sangam and buried them here.
Since then, the place is believed to be as holy as the Triveni Sangam and tribals started their holy ritual.
The festival draws about four to five lakh tribals every year. Keeping in mind the huge turnout of people, the district administration has made adequate security arrangements for the fair. Two platoons of police force along with one inspector and four assistant sub-inspectors have been deployed at the place to maintain law and order. PNN
