RDC reviews developmental works and law and order situation at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

A meeting of Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) was held on 8 May in Berhampur under the Chairmanship of Revenue Divisional Commissioner Southern Division and Chairman TTDB Shri Bikash Mohapatra to review the ongoing developmental works and law and order condition at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine.

After reviewing the current law and order situation at the Shrine area the Chairman directed the Ganjam Collector (In-charge) Shri Lingaraj Rath to expedite the establishment of a police station at the Hill Shrine.

Evaluating the on going developmental works the Chairman clarified that the R&D department Govt. of Odisha would soon start the construction work of a Reception Centre, Bus Stand, Prasad Mandap and lavatory complex at the Shrine. The Tourism Department, Govt. of Odisha has already sanction Rs. 86 lakhs for this purpose.

It was also decided that the ambitious parking project on the hill top area connecting the Ghat road to the Path Way will commence soon at a cost of Rs. 4 crores. This project will create more space for parking of vehicles near the shrine on the Tara Tarini Hill top.

As per the decision the ropeway modernization work undertaken by Usha Breco Pvt. Ltd will be completed soon and opened for public use. The RDC directed the Sub-Collector, Chhatrapur, to check the safety standards and other details according to govt. rules before giving clearance.  Notable, Usha Breco Pvt. Ltd has established this ropeway at the Tara Tarini hill shrine on the lines of the modern Ropeways at Mansa Devi in Haridwar.

In this meeting the Chairman also said that the Solar Light project which was pending nearly for a year will be expedited. Rs. 50 lakh has been sanctioned by the Govt. of India for this project, he informed.

In this meeting the Chairman closely monitored the law and order situation at Tara Tarini shrine area and security of the pilgrims coming to this Shakti Pith. He said that an unfortunate incident of sexual assault has happened in the recent past at a distance of around 5 kms from the holy Shrine.

He directed the District Collector and SP to keep strict vigil in the entire holy Shrine area and ensure the security of the devotees coming to the Shakti Pith.

He said the upcoming police station near the shrine will further strength the law and order situation in the Shrine area.

Along with the RDC, the OMFED CMD Shri Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, Ganjam Collector In-charge Shri Lingaraj Rath, officials of Ganjam District, Tahsildar Purushottampur, Secretary and other officials of TTDB were also present in the meeting.

Ram Prasad Tripathy, PRO, Tara Tarini Development Board, Berhampur, Odisha

Chaitra Yatra 2013: Month long Yatra concludes at Maa Tara Tarini Shrine, over 15 lakh pay obeisance

Marked by devotional celebrations and with the presence of lakhs of devotees the month long Chaitra Yatra at Tara Tarini Shakti Pith came to an end. The chanting of religious hymns in the spiritual ambiance of the Hill Shrine and the ritualistic worship of the devotees throughout the month charged the atmosphere with an exhilarating blend of spirituality.

So far as the Chaitra month is concerned, in India's national civil calendar it is the first month of the Hindu year. This month is also associated with the coming of spring season and therefore Holi, the spring festival of colours, is celebrated on the eve of Chaitra throughout the country. The first day of Chaitra is widely celebrated as Hindu New Year's Day in India (Varsha Pratipada), known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Chaitrai Vishu or Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The Chaitra Yatra in the holy Chaitra month is celebrated at the ancient Tara Tarini hill shrine every year during the early spring season that falls in the month of March/April.

Chaitra Yatra 2013 commenced on the 27 March and concluded on April 27. Thousands of Sadhus, Sanyasins, Devi Sadhkas and devotees thronged the shrine for divine blessings of Maa Tara Tarini during this period.

Like the other Tuesdays of the month there was also heavy rush on the last and fourth Tuesday at the hill shrine. Darshan for the devotees started in the sanctum sanctorum after midnight Maha Arati at around 3.00 a.m and continued up to late evening. During the Maha Arati festival thousands of devotees were present at the shrine.

It is notable, that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of celebration at this shrine and devotees gather in lakhs to take a glimpse of Adi Shakti Maa Tara Tarini to get rid of their difficulties and to accomplish their worldly desires. On the fourth Tuesday devotees waited in long queues to take a glance of Maa throughout the day and offered prayers. On this occasion more than ten thousand kids tonsured their heads at the Shrine for a delightful life.

Tara Tarini Development Board arranged; Khichdi Prasad for lakhs of the pilgrims, special bus to reach the hill top shrine and made arrangements for special darshan, barbers for Mundan ceremony of the babies besides safe drinking water for the devotees.

As per the tradition like other Tuesdays thousands of families and groups cooked food as an offering to the goddesses in around 2 square k.m orchards of the foothill area after fulfillment of their desires and had a day of picnic at the Shrine.

Heavy police deployment was made by the district administration. Two IPS officers were in charge to control the law and order situation in and around the shrine. The administration also made wide arrangements to control traffic at the foot hill area during the month.

As per primary assessment over 10 lakh of devotees paid obeisance on Four Tuesdays of the Chaitra month and another 5 lakh pilgrims visited the Shrine during other days of the month.

This year the month long Chaitra Yatra at this Shakti Pith has passed off peacefully but it remained in news due to the death of 3 pilgrims.

The district administration, volunteers, social organizations, media (both electronic and print), Panchayat and local people extended their full support to Tara Tarini Development Board for peacefully arranging the Yatra during the whole month.

Tara Tarini chock-a-block with devotees on first Tuesday of Chaitra

Thousands of devotees from far off places in the state and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh thronged Tara Tarini temple, about 35 km from Berhampur city, on the occasion of first Tuesday of Chaitra Mela on April 02, 2013.

Braving the scorching heat, they climbed the 999 steps of the 17th century temple, on the banks of river Rushikulya, to tonsure the head of their children. Devotees offer hair to the deity, as a part of age-old tradition, on every Tuesday during the month of Chaitra. "I work in Delhi and have come all the way to get my child's head tonsured here," said Deepak Sahu, a software engineer. Even though a road has been laid till the temple, most devotees prefer climbing the steps for 'darshan'.

"The district administration and the temple administration have made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of visitors," said secretary of Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) Pramod Kumar Panda. Water is being provided on the way to the temple along with healthcare facilities. At least 500 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. "No untoward incident has been reported till now," said SDPO (Chhatrapur) A Ch Pahi.

The authorities charge Rs 20 for 'Mundan' (close shaving) on the temple premises and only Re 1 for 'darshan', though special darshan costs Rs 50 per head, sources said.

Volunteers have been engaged to make the drive against polythene on the temple premises successful. They have been asked to convince the devotees not to throw polythene on the premises. RDC (southern division) Bikash Mohapatra had stressed making the shrine a polythene-free zone at the preparatory meeting for the festival. Source: Times of India