Puri (Odisha), Nov 15 (Bureau) The month-long Kartik Brata concluded on Purnima (the full moon day) on Friday. Special rituals were performed in government-run Habisyali centers to mark the conclusion of the Brata. From midnight on Thursday, Habisyalis rushed to the Mahadadhi Tirtha (a 5 km stretch of beach from Swargadwar to Chakratirtha) to take a holy dip and sail tiny boats in the sea. Other sacred water bodies were also used to commemorate the glorious maritime trade of ancient Kalinga. The devotees performed special pujas to the sacred Tulsi (basil) plant and took holy dips in the waters of the Tirtha. After offering prayers to the rising sun, they visited the Sri Jagannath Temple to witness the Rajrajeswar Suna Vesha of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
A heavy rush of devotees was seen at the Singhadwar entrance of the temple, with long queues forming within barricades. The administration effectively managed the crowd, ensuring a smooth darshan of the deities. Starting at midnight on Thursday, priests performed the daily rituals of the deities, including Mangal Arati, Mailum, Tadaplagi, Abakash, Surya Pooja, and Rosa Homa, and offered Gopal Bhog. As per the rescheduled timings set by the temple administration, three special sets of servitors dressed the deities in gold ornaments, including limbs, feet, insignias, tiaras, and necklaces studded with precious gems. After the darshan of the deities, many Habisyalis began their return journey by buses and trains, while others chose to stay until the rush subsided. The state government hosted about 3,500 devotees from across Odisha, providing accommodation, food, and other facilities at its expense.
They were housed in four different accommodations, including Brundabati Nibas, a seven-story building with a capacity to house over 1,000 devotees. These centers were well-furnished with basic amenities to meet the needs of the devotees for performing their religious rites. Devotees were provided with breakfast and Mahaprasad once daily. Transportation to and from the temple, assistance from appointed priests, evening religious discourses by scholars, and health care were also arranged for their convenience. To ensure safety and order, about 37 platoons of police personnel were deployed to regulate vehicular traffic and maintain law and order. Hundreds of lifeguards were stationed at the sea beach and other sacred water bodies to prevent drowning incidents. District Collector Sidharth Sankar Swain, Superintendent of Police Binit Agarwal, and Chief Administrator of the temple Aravind Padhi personally oversaw the arrangements for the Habisyalis. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his deputy Pravati Parida also visited the Habisyali centers during the festival.