Seek solace at Taratarini Shrine

BY: BIBHUTI BARIK

Bhubaneswar, May 18: When chief minister Naveen Patnaik started his electoral journey after paying an obeisance to the famous deity at Taratarini three weeks ago, people of Ganjam and the entire south Odisha were extremely happy.

Before beginning anything auspicious, an average person from undivided Ganjam district and the entire south Odisha would always seek blessings of Goddess Taratarini. It is believed that if you go to the temple with a wish in your heart, then it would definitely be fulfilled.

Situated in Raipura village under Purushottampur block in Ganjam district, lakhs of tourists from nearby areas in Odisha and also from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bengal visit the famous shrine.

The temple on the summit of a hillock is on the right bank of the beautiful and meandering Rushikulya river. The shrine is just 7km away from Purushottampur and 30km away from Berhampur.

Travel writer from Chhatrapur, district headquarters town of Ganjam, Sujata Patnaik, said: “Taratarini shrine has now achieved tremendous popularity for the twin goddesses Tara and Tarini. Both are ancient deities and were worshiped on the hilltop at a small temple for decades in the past. The original structure was demolished in 2005 and the new temple replaced the old one with the Kalingan temple architecture. With beautiful Khandolite stone the temple looks beautiful from the road near the foothill.’’

Nityanand Mondal, a visitor from Bhubaneswar, who came to the shrine with family said: “The ropeway has added a new dimension to the tourism scene. Unlike the ropeway at Nandankanan Zoological Park, which is abandoned now, the cars here give you a feeling of a safe ride. A person can also come to the hilltop without hiring a vehicle and go back by the ropeway.’’

The state government has also taken up widening of the road to the shrine that was earlier narrow. “The road widening work is a good step taken by the authorities. The endowment department should go for facilitating basic amenities near the shrine outside the temple compound,’’ said Nigam Nayak, a tourist, who came from Berhampur with friends.

The twin deities, crudely fashioned in stone, have beautiful silver eyes attached to them. Legends connect the deities to Sakta cult in the past.

Historians say that the Bhanja dynasty rulers of the former Ghumsar state in the undivided Ganjam district installed the enshrining deity. At present the endowment department looks after the temple, but Taratarini Development Board administers the day-to-day affairs.

Interestingly, monkeys in groups often create problems for visitors. “You must not flash a banana or coconuts openly while returning from the temple before getting into the vehicles. You should hide them with a dupatta or a bag,’’ said Nayak.

While the kalpa bata or the banyan tree which fulfils wishes is outside the temple and gets offerings of red scarves, bangles and clothes, a point near the gate also attracts visitors to put their offerings on a platform.

Offerings such as laddu and khichdi are available at a counter near a gate with a nominal price.

Getting there is easy as taxis and auto-rickshaws available at Berhampur and Chhatrapur. There are several places to stay. Moreover, there is a beautiful Panth Nivas run by the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation near the hill. Rail and road links to Berhampur and Chhatrapur are available in plenty.

Source: The Telegraph 

Chaitra Yatra Third Tuesday at Maa Taratarini hill shrine, Odisha

Famous Danda Kali Natcha of Berhampur, Ganjam (near Tara Tarini Shakti Pith)

Polythene, liquor to be banned at Tara Tarini during Chaitra fest

Use of polythene and consumption of liquor would be completely banned during Chaitra festival at Tara Tarini hill shrine this year.

It was decided at a preparatory meting for the festival, which was chaired by Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Bikash Mohapatra, who also happens to be the president of Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), new Ganjam Collector Prem Chandra Choudhury as well as officials of different departments. The Chaitra festival at Tara Tarini hill shrine would be held on five consecutive Tuesdays starting from March 18.

A large number of devotees visit the hill shrine during this time. Last year over seven lakh devotees had visited the hill shrine during the Chaitra festival. The TTDB authorities feel their number may increase this year. The Tara Tarini hills shrine had faced severe impact of Cyclone Phailin. So, basic restoration work is on to provide required amenities to the devotees visiting the shrine.

As all rest sheds at this hill shrine have been destroyed by the cyclone, both at the hill top and downhill, the TTDB has decided to make alternative arrangements. According to secretary of the TTDB, Pramod Patnaik, around thirty tents would be put at different places at this hill shrine to provide shelter to the visitors.

It was also decided to protect the environment of this hill shrine through complete ban of polythene at the shrine and its adjoining areas during the Chaitra festivities.

Apart from it sale of liquor would also be stopped in this area from Monday evening to Tuesday evening during the Chaitra festival. Sulabh International and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) departments would be in charge of maintenance of sanitation.

To provide adequate quantity of water to the visiting devotees, ten tankers would be used. They would be procured from Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur as well as different urban local bodies in Ganjam district.

The ropeway to the top of the hill shrine which had been devastated by the cyclone last year has been restored. “But the operator of the ropeway has been advised to procure new fitness certificate before the Chaitra festival,” said an official. The stairs to the hill top as well as the roads to it have also been renovated for the festival.

The bank of Rushikulya river that flows along the Tara Tarini hill has been eroded for a stretch of over 100 meters near the hill shrine. So, it has been decided to deploy Odisha Disaster rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel at this stretch to avoid any mishaps.

Water tankers to be used to provide adequate quantity of water to devotees

The ropeway to the top of the hill shrine has been restored: official