Sambalpur, Sep 21: Thousands of devotees gathered at the sacred Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur on Sunday to witness the rare and spiritually significant ‘Dhabalamukhi Besha’—a special white attire worn by Goddess Samaleswari on the auspicious occasion of Mahalaya.

Traditionally adorned in red throughout the year, Maa Samaleswari appears in dazzling white only on Mahalaya—symbolizing purity and divine grace. This rare appearance is also known as ‘Ganga Darshan’, and is deeply revered by devotees.

“It takes over six hours to adorn Maa Samaleswari in her ‘Dhabalamukhi Besha’, which she will continue to wear until Tuesday afternoon,” said Sanjaya Babu, Chairman of the Samaleswari Temple Trust Board.

“On this day, Maa Samaleswari gives darshan in her Dhabalamukhi Besha, which attracts a large number of devotees. By having darshan today, devotees receive the full blessings of Maa in her Ganga form,” he added.

Given the expected footfall, the temple doors were opened at 5 AM, and long lines of devotees from across Sambalpur district and neighboring states had already begun forming in the early hours. Elaborate arrangements were made by the temple authorities to ensure smooth darshan, including security measures and crowd control.

The day also saw a significant political visit, with BJP State President Manmohan Samal arriving in Sambalpur to offer prayers. He had darshan of Maa Samaleswari in her sacred Dhabalamukhi Besha and interacted with devotees at the temple premises.

Mahalaya, a day dedicated to ancestor remembrance and ‘Pind Daan’, also marks the spiritual prelude to Navaratri. From Monday, Navaratra Puja will begin at Samaleswari Temple and continue for nine days with various rituals and celebrations.