Taratarini draws huge devotees

Tathya.in

Berhampur:9/June/2009
The famous Taratarini Hill Shrine has emerged as one of the most visited religious destination in Orissa. Thanks to the recent initiatives of the Taratarini Development Board(TTDB), headed by Satyabrat Sahu, RDC Southern Division, visitors list is likely to cross 25 lakh mark by the year end, said an official. Mr. Sahu, a devotee of Adi Shakti is taking lot of interest in developing the shrine into a major tourist centre. The Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Mata Sati, is one amongst the four major ancient Shakti centers (Adi Shakti Peetha) of India and an important prehistoric religious center which bears an uninterrupted history of 6000 years, is being visited by huge number of devotees. According to stats of TTDB, this year in the auspicious month of Chaitra (March / April 2009) more than 17 lakh devotees visited the Shrine. A good number of NRIs and foreigners also visited the Shrine this year. This year, particularly in the four auspicious Tuesdays around 12 lakh devotees have visited the Shrine. Besides some 5 lakh devotees have visited the Hill Shrine on other days of the month. Amongst them around 13 lakh visitors were from Orissa, while a staggering 4 lakh visitors were from other states like Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and other States. Taking account to the rapid growth of visitors, TTDB has started the overall development of the Taratarini Hill Shrine and its nearby areas. Over this period of time the Board has successfully completed the work of a new temple on the Hilltop for the Twin Goddesses. Architecture is marvelous and it is presenting an unique sight for the both domestic and foreigner devotees. TTDB has successfully initiated the work of widening of the 999 sacred stone steps with rest sheds, widening of the roads leading to the Hilltop. And providing drinking water facility on the hill top and constructing the first Arial “Rope Way” of Eastern India to a religious shrine, has added to the facility. More and more facilities are being added keeping in view the growing traffic to the shrine, said R P Tripathy, Publicity Chief of TTDB.