Berhampur: Thousands of devotees thronged the Tara Tarini temple, one of the prominent Shakti shrines in the state, on the first Tuesday of the Chaitra month, marking the beginning of the Chaitra mela. The temple, located atop a hill near Purushottampur in Ganjam district, drew worshippers seeking the blessings of the twin deities.
Many devotees offered the tonsured hair of their babies as part of the ritual. To facilitate this, the temple administration designated four areas for smooth tonsuring and engaged 200 barbers.
Under the direction of transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, the district administration reduced bus fares from Rs 50 to Rs 30 and ropeway charges from Rs 65 to Rs 60 per head this year. At least 12 buses and a ropeway were deployed to transport visitors to the hilltop temple, which stands around 709 feet above sea level. Despite the transportation facilities, several devotees chose to climb the 999 steps leading to the 17th-century shrine.
“Drinking water and medical facilities were arranged near the temple,” said Pramod Kumar Panda, secretary of the Tara Tarini development committee.
Ganjam collector Dibya Jyoti Parida and senior officers visited the temple early morning to oversee the arrangements. SP (Ganjam) Subhendu Kumar Patrasaid that around 13 platoons of police forces were stationed at key locations. “Over 50 police officers, 100 constables, and 150 home guards were deployed to maintain law and order and ensure smooth traffic. No untoward incidents were reported,” Patra said.