Berhampur: Thousands of devotees throng the Tara Tarini shrine in Ganjam district as today marks the first Tuesday of the Chaitra month.Devotees are seen gathering in large numbers at the temple atop the hill, seeking blessings and participating in rituals.Adorned in lively decorations,the temple atop hills with the goddess in Mahakali form,greeted thousands of devotees, with queues forming from the wee hours of the day.Arrangements have been made at four places at foot hill for Mundan,the age-old practice where the hair of newborn babies get tonsored from their head with a belief that goddess Tara Tarini will protect the newborns from evils.To manage the large number of pilgrims,the district administration has made resting areas, drinking water facilities, and traffic control.While 12 buses pressed into service to take the devotees to hill top with a charge of Rs 30/-per person,several devotees walked the 999 steps to reach the shrine,besides many also availed the ropeway service.The Chaitra festival is one of the most important celebrations at the Tara Tarini temple.Devotees gather to offer prayers to the deities at the Bije Pitha.The Chaitra Mela which starts from the first Tuesday of the Hindu month of Chaitra continues for the four Tuesdays of the month. Tara Tarini is known as one of the major Shakti Pithas in India where the twin goddesses Tara and Tarini are worshipped as the manifestation of Adi Shakti.The temple on hill is located on the bank of river Rushikulya.The goddesses Tara and Tarini are regarded as the presiding deity (Ista-Devi) in many parts of Odisha.
