The mela takes off every year on the occasion of Magha Saptami, the seventh day of the second quarter of the holy month Magha, which fell on February 28, this year.
Sadhus (sages) from Kashi, Benaras and Ayodhya arrived in the city to attend the mela. Many of these sadhus take a holy dip early on Magha Saptami morning at the Chandrabhaga beach in Konark and then proceed towards Khandagiri to participate in the rituals of the lighting of the holy fire (yajna), conducted at the Khandagiri foothills.
In the evening, locals took out a procession with the deity of Lord Anant Keshari in a palanquin and walk to the Udaygiri foothills. After taking the deity to a place called Ranihanspur near the Udaygiri hills, they bring it back to Naga mutt in Jagamara after a few hours.
According to the sources, the Khandagiri jatra shows will start from January 30. Around six opera parties have been given permission to stage their plays and entertain the people during the mela.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Commissionerate Police have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the mela.
