Berhampur: A joint meeting of various administrative departments gave permission Sunday for observance of famous biennial ‘Budhi Thakurani Yatra’ festival in this town.
The decision to observe the festival was taken after the meeting which was attended by Municipal Commissioner Siddheswar Baliram Bonder, Sub-collector V Kirti Vasan, Berhampur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda and festival organiser Durga Prasad Desi Behera. The meeting was conducted at the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC).
The festival will be organised following COVID-19 protocols and only local devotees will be allowed to participate, the BeMC commissioner said. In the first phase, only seven days have been allowed for the festival. The situation will then be reviewed before the permission for its extension is given, a communiqué from the BeMC said.
The Subha Khunti’ (auspicious pillar), which marks the beginning of the Budhi Thakurani Yatra will be installed Monday midnight, and the festival will begin with it.
However, Durga Prasad informed the BeMC commissioner at the meeting that the time period allotted to conduct the rituals is not sufficient.
The month-long festival marks the journey of Goddess Budhi Thakurani, presiding deity of the Silk City, to her parental abode at Desi Behera street. During the festival, people move around dressed as mythological characters. The festival is basically celebrated by the local weaver community, known as Devangiris.
PNN