Preparatory meeting held for Chaitra Yatra at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

As part of the preparations for the upcoming Chaitra Yatra at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine in Odisha, the District Collector of Ganjam and Vice Chairman of the Tara Tarini Development Board Dr. Krishan Kumar called a special meeting at the Conference Hall of the Collectorate in Chhatrapur on March 19, 2013. Notable, that the month long Chaitra festival at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine, believed to be the Breast Shrine of Adi Shakti, has a special significance in the annual calendar of events of the Hill Shrine. This year the Chaitra Yatra will start on the first Tuesday from April 02. As per the English calendar the Second, Third and Fourth Tuesdays which are the most auspicious days during the Chaitra month falls on 09th, 16th and 23rd April respectively.

As per the trends witnessed in the previous years, lakhs of devotees are expected to gather during the whole month. Especially on each of the four Tuesdays, considered most auspicious at the Hill Shrine, around 5-6 lakhs of devotees gather at the shrine. Taking the huge gathering into consideration and for peaceful management of the Chaitra yatra, the meeting discussed all aspects relating to the management of the Yatra.  Chairman of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) and Revenue Divisional Commissioner Southern Odisha Shri Bikash Chandra Mahapatra presided over the meeting.   Reviewing the preparations made by the district administration he sought the help of all to make the holy Shrine a polythene free destination during the yatra period. He instructed the district administration and the Development Board to strictly implement this decision from April 01.

Ganjam district collector Dr. Krishan Kumar reviewed the law and order, water supply, transportation, parking and sanitation arrangements in and around the holy shrine.  He informed that taking the huge gathering into consideration 10 more temporary lavatory complexes will come up on the hill top. Drinking water will be provided to the people both on the hill top and on the foot hill of the shrine and for that the administration will arrange adequate number of water tankers on the foot hill area, he said. The collector also informed that the administration will take all necessary steps to provide uninterrupted power supply to the shrine from each Monday midnight to Tuesday midnight during the whole month. He said the chief district Medical officer will open health camps and look into the food quality on the road side eateries in and around the shrine area.

The Collector informed that akin to the practice of previous years, facility for Special Darshan at the shrine and special buses to the hilltop will be arranged for the benefit of the devotees. Huge police deployment will be made on all Tuesdays of the month for the maintenance of law and order and traffic management in and around the hill shrine. He said that clean water will be released on every yatra day from the reservoir to the holy Rushikulya River on the foot hill for bathing purpose of the devotees.

It is noteworthy that the modernization work of the Ropeway to the hill top by the USHA BRECO Company, Ghaziabad, is currently underway. The district collector has given instructions to the company to make it ready by the first week of April for quicker and hassle free transportation of devotees.  Among others, Chhatrapur sub-collector, District Culture officer, BDO Purushottampur, Tahasildar Purushottampur, TTDB Secretary Pramod Kumar Panda, Executive officer MBK Rao, District Superintendent of Police other officials and TTDB office bearers were present on the occasion.

Preparations in full swing

for Chaitra Jatra

BERHAMPUR, March 24, 2013: Preparations were in full swing for the annual Chaitra Jatra festival at Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district...................

All set for Tara Tarini Mela
Bhubaneswar: 23/March/2013: Kishan Kumar has asked the officials to get in readiness for the upcoming Chaitra Yatra at Maa Tara Tarini Hill Shrine in Odisha, This is the Holiest shrine ................................

Preparatory meeting held for Chaitra Yatra

 at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

Report by OdishaDiary bureau, Berhampur: As part of the preparations for the upcoming Chaitra Yatra at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine in Odisha, the District Collector of Ganjam and Vice Chairman of the Tara Tarini Development Board Dr. Krishan Kumar called a special meeting......................................................

Record hair collection expected at Tara Tarini Shrine in Odisha

Famous Tara Tarini temple in Ganjam district of Odisha is expected to earn around Rs 3.88 lakh by selling hair offered to its deities this year. "About a dozen organisations took part in the auction last week and a group from Andhra Pradesh bid the highest", said an officer of the temple administration. The highest bidding during auction of hair last year was Rs 3.42 lakh, he said.

Hundreds of people climb the 999 steps to this centuries old shrine atop Dahibandi near Purushottampur; about 35 km from here, to get the heads of their children tonsured every Tuesday in the month of Chaitra. "There has been a rise in the number of bidders," said secretary of the Tara Tarini Shrine Development Board (TTSDB), Pramod Kumar Panda.

The hair collected from the temple is processed and exported to the US, the UK, France, Germany and Hongkong. The hair is either made into wigs or used for extensions. The short strands serve as raw material for cosmetic products, sources said.

Around 90 per cent of the total collection of hair comes in Chaitra. "The organisation engages several people to collect hair every Tuesday during this month. On other days, a single person is given charge of collecting the hair", said revenue inspector of Tara Tarini, L N Panda. They will be deployed on the temple premises from April 1, he added.

The temple is also going environment-friendly by banning plastic on its premises. In a recent meeting, the TTDB took the decision to make its premises free of polythene and stressed the strict implementation of the decision.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of revenue divisional commissioner (southern range) Bikash Mohapatra, also discussed plans for the smooth conduct of the Chaitra festival at the temple beginning April 2. Lakhs of devotees are expected to visit the temple every Tuesday during Chaitra.

Some of the Comments on the Times of India

jnm22 (Puri)

It is a Good scheme to improve the Cash Flow of the temple Administration. I think the temple Admin is following the Tirupati Model.

Syed Yousuf (Kuwait)

Hinduism does not promote idol worship/worshipping demi gods infact it rejects it. Shvetashvatara Upanishad Chapter 4 Verse 19 says "Na tasyapati na asti" (For God there is no pratima, no image, no picture, and no statue) and Yajur Veda Chapter 40 Verse 9 says "Andhatm pravishanti ya aashambhuti upaste" (Those are entering in darkness who worships the natural things (like-fire, water, air etc.) & those are entering in more darkness who worships the shumbuti (created things like statue,table, chair etc.) But unfortunately the common hindu majority of whom neither read these scriptures nor follow them blindly worship what not idols, snake, monkey, Shiv Ling etc., etc.,. I sincrely request all Hindus to read their scriptures with understanding and am sure you will find the Truth.

kamal (Delhi) replies to Syed Yousuf

The Hinduism also says that the God or the Supreme Being is present in every particle and object of this universe. So whats the problem in worshiping an image.............if the Supreme Being is present in that image. U r a new comer in the world of Hinduism......so, go deep, u will understand what Hinduism really is .........

kamal (New Delhi)

The Tara Tarini Hill Shrine in Ganjam, Odisha is also going environment-friendly by banning plastic on its premises this year. The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) took the decision to make its premises free of polythene. Its a great idea. The authorities of this shrine always took environmental friendly decisions. In the recent past, in collaboration with TATA the TTDB has decided to plant thousands of trees for the betterment of the environment. A major SOLAR LIGHT project is also being implemented in this shrine in collaboration with the Central Government. Really you are doing a good work. Others must imitate these steps taken by the Shrine. I congratulate the authorities of Maa Tara Tarini holy shrine for these environment friendly moves.

DP Mohanty (Bangalore)

Hairs after auction are exported to western countries....

Dev (Australia)

its a good idea. Shows the temple authorities are proactive.. and trying to improve their lot. funds are always needed in temple. Rather than always asking for cash donation, they should try various such methods.

Neeraj (UAE)

Its very good business........

Chaitra Parba/ Chaitra Mela/ Chaitra Yatra at Taratarini Hill Shrine

The 'Taratarini Mela' or Chaitra Mela at Taratarini shrine is one of the biggest fairs, take place during the month of Chaitra and particularly on each Tuesday of the month of Chaitra i.e. during March-April (according to the English calendar) at the holy Tara Tarini Hill Shrine. Lakhs of devotees come from every corner of world in order to have darshan of the Goddess Tara Tarini and perform their Manasika after fulfillment of their desires. Grand congregations take place on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Tuesdays of this month. This Chaitra Parba/Chaitra Mela/ festival is the most important amongst the festivals, celebrated at the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine.

Significant features of the Chaitra festival are as follows;

• On Tuesday, the Shrine remains open for the Darshan of the deities from 1.00 AM (mid-night on Monday) till 11 PM (of Tuesday). During that period, Pahada (daytime rest) of the deities is confined to night-time only.
• Devotees in large numbers congregate at the top of the hill and the foothill from Monday night itself.
• 2nd & 3rd Tuesdays of the Chaitra are considered to be the most auspicious days to get Siddhi. Therefore large number of devotees (Around 5-7 lakhs) congregate during these days.
• Puja and offering by the devotees are offered to the Chalanti Pratima of deities placed at the Bije Peetha for the Bije Pratima in-front of the temple. However, Darshan of the deities in Garbha Griha (Sanctum of the main temple) is allowed.
• Special Khechidi Bhoga (Fried Rice of around 1,000 K.g of rice, Ghee, Cashew, dry fruits and other items) is supplied to the devotees from Monday mid-night till 6 PM of Tuesday evening non-stop.
• Thousands of devotees come to the shrine during the month of Chaitra and particularly on four Tuesdays to offer the first bunch of Hair of their newborn babies to the goddesses.
• About 20-30 lakh devotees and tourists visiting this holy shrine during this month.

Hair Offerings during Chaitra Mela

Devotees come to offer the first bunch of Hair of the newborn babies with the believe that Goddesses Tara Tarini will protect the newborns from all evils and ensure their well-being. On normal days the temple barber conducts the tonsuring of the children. Special arrangements for hair offering are made during the Chaitra Tuesday festivals. The temple administration arraigning all equipment necessary for tonsuring. Around 1000 barbers at the barber-shed on hill top and on the foot hill are engaged to help the hair offering of children and other devotees. Hair offering continues from the early morning till 6 PM of Chaitra Tuesdays.