Bhawanipatna, Oct 19: The historic Chhatar Jatra of Goddess Maa Manikeswari was held in Bhawanipatna of Odisha’s Kalahandi district, drawing thousands of devotees who gathered to witness the sacred procession.

The Vijay Chhatar procession commenced around 5 AM from Jenakhol and proceeded through the designated route before returning to the main Manikeswari Temple by the afternoon. The annual religious event witnessed a massive turnout of devotees seeking the blessings of the presiding deity.

In view of the huge gathering, the district administration and police made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the festival.

As many as 15 platoons of police personnel and 95 police officers were deployed for crowd management and security. Additionally, 25 CCTV cameras and drone surveillance were used to monitor the crowd and maintain law and order throughout the procession.

The Chhatar Jatra is one of the most significant religious festivals of Kalahandi and holds immense cultural and spiritual importance for devotees.