Ghatagaon, Ap 10: The Maa Tarini Temple at Ghatgaon in Keonjhar, has come alive with festivities as the Chaiti Parba festival commenced yesterday, drawing large crowds of devotees from across the region.

The temple administration has made extensive arrangements for the seven-day-long festival to ensure smooth conduct of rituals and effective crowd management. The premises were adorned with lights, flowers, and decorative elements, reflecting the celebratory spirit. Special preparations were also made in anticipation of lakhs of devotees expected to visit during the festival.

On the second day of the festival, following rituals such as Mailama and Tadapalagi, Goddess Tarini was beautifully adorned in Suna Besha and opened for darshan. This ritual, considered highly auspicious, remains one of the key highlights of the festival.

Devotees expressed their devotion and joy. One said, “The Goddess blesses her children with abundance, and I come here every year to seek her blessings.” Another remarked, “I feel very happy and blessed to have darshan of Goddess Tarini.”

To ensure orderly movement and safety, police personnel were deployed throughout the temple premises, overseeing crowd management and security during the celebrations.

The Chaiti Parba continues to be a major religious and cultural event in Keonjhar, reflecting the deep faith and traditions associated with Maa Tarini.