Khandapada: Non-veg items are usually a taboo in case of religious rituals. But there are some rituals where eggs and liquor are offered to deities.
Such strange rituals are associated with Patamara Parba being celebrated by Tiara community at Harisubudhipatana and Panusahupatna in Kantilo area of Nayagarh district.
In the month of Chaitra, Danadayatra is celebrated across the state. Devotees with vows stay away from eating non-veg food. But they offer eggs and liquor as bhog to Goddess Mangala.
Patmamara Paraba was part of the Dandayatra. It was celebrated with religious fervor at Dholamara, Kumbharapada, Kantilo Panusahupatana and Harisubudhipatana under Khandapara block Wednesday.
Most of the devotees were seen walking barefoot on burning embers in pits, some rolled on beds of spikes and some were found piercing their bodies with hooks. This festival usually begins from Dola Purnima.
Since then, devotees refrain from taking non-veg food. For nine days before Vishubha Samkranti, the devotees leave their homes and stay at the shines of the goddess.
In the evenings and nights, devotees drink pana, a kind of liquid prepared from various fruits. The custom is while drinking pana, the devotees must stop eating instantly if hear sound of any animals or birds.
A man plays as kalisi, dressed quaintly. Kalisi is the representative of the goddess. The Kalisi and the devotees carry the idol of the goddess into Badapokhari (a sprawling pond) at Panusahipatana.
Amid the pond, some devotees were seen hugging the idol in water while others pierce crooked spikes in their back. The hooks are tied with ropes. Strangely, not a single drop of blood oozes from their backs.
PNN
