Cuttack, Nov 2: Thousands of devotees thronged the Shree Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack ahead of the auspicious occasion of Bada Osha, a revered fasting festival in Odisha dedicated to Lord Dhabaleswar, a form of Lord Shiva. Celebrated on Shukla Trayodashi of the Kartika month, the festival marks the onset of Sheeta Ritu (winter season) and is observed with deep spiritual fervor.

Pilgrims, many of whom traveled from distant regions, undertook a day-long fast and crossed the Mahanadi River to reach the temple, which is uniquely situated on an island. The temple premises echoed with chants and prayers as devotees sought divine blessings for peace and prosperity.

The ‘Gaja Bhoga’ offering will take place during the sacred juncture of Trayodashi and Chaturdashi during Panchuka, marking a spiritually significant moment for Shiva devotees.

Massive Crowd Anticipated

The temple premises are already witnessing swelling crowds, with devotees arriving from far and wide. The district administration, led by Cuttack Collector Dattatray Bhausaheb Shinde, has conducted on-site inspections to ensure smooth proceedings and crowd management.

Five-Day Festive Rituals

During the five-day ‘Panchuka’ observance, Baba Dhabaleswar appears in five distinct ceremonial attires, each day drawing thousands for darshan. The temple committee has said that all rituals will begin early morning, followed by public viewing once the deity is adorned.

Security and Infrastructure

To manage the expected influx, the administration has deployed 15 platoons of police, including 2 additional SPs, 8 DSPs, and over 200 officers. Barricades stretch from the concrete bridge to the temple boundary, with 32 CCTV cameras, fire services, and ODRAF teams stationed for safety.

 
Also Read: Panchuka Brata Begins In Puri With Modified Rituals And Tight Security 

Devotee Comfort Measures

This year, devotees have been walking nearly 3 kilometers to reach Baba Dhavaleswar’s shrine for darshan, leading to fatigue and frustration. Many expressed their concerns directly to the Cuttack District Collector. In response, the Collector announced that tomorrow, 20 electric vehicles (EVs) will be deployed to assist pilgrims.

Additionally, LED screens will be installed along the route, allowing devotees to view rare visuals of Baba Dhavaleswar’s ceremonial attire during their journey, helping ease their physical exhaustion.