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

TTDB welcomes the devotees to the Chaitra Yatra

Solar lighting project approved for Tara Tarini Shrine

Tata group agreed to take up massive plantation work at Tara Tarini

Rs. 50 lakh would be financed by Central government for the project

Bathroom complex & facilitation centre for pilgrims would be built up

A big solar lighting project would be taken up at the famous Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district. It was part of discussion in the Annual General Body Meeting of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) held in the conference hall in the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, in Berhampur on May 25, 2012. This meeting was presided by the RDC Laxmi Narayn Nayak, who happens to be the chairman of the TTDB. Vice-chairman of the TTDB, the Ganjam Collector Kishen Kumar, its secretary Pramod Panda, and officials of different departments, office bearers of TTDB, members of TTDB and dignitaries of the city were present at the meeting.

TTDB secretary Mr. Panda said such major solar light project is being implemented in any religious shrine in the State for the second time. A similar solar light project is already on in Sri Jagannath temple in Puri. According to Mr. Panda for this solar lighting project Rs. 50 lakh would be financed by the Central government and it would be installed by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA). The hill top of this hill shrine would be lighted up by this renewable source of energy.

During discussions it was also revealed that funds worth around Rs.72 lakh from the Central government and State government for development of tourism prospects of this hill shrine was already with the district administration. Using this fund a bathroom complex and a facilitation centre for pilgrims would be built up at the hill shine.

At the request of the TTDB, the Tata group has agreed to take up massive plantation work at the Tara Tarini hill, said Mr. Panda. Source: The Hindu

Four Lakh devotees throng Taratarini hill shrine on 2nd Tuesday of Chaitra fest



Tara Tarini Hills (Kumari Hills) from the Sky (Image Source: Google earth)

Around four lakh devotees from various parts of Orissa and from neighbouring states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh thronged the Tara Tarini hill shrine on the auspicious Second Tuesday of the month of Chaitra. Tara Tarini, an ancient Shakti shrine located on the banks of the mythologically famous river of Rushikulya, 30 km from Berhampur city, is believed to be the Sthana Pitha (Breast Shrine) of Adi Shakti. The Shrine is one of the ancient most places of Shakti worship and among the four major Shakti centers in India. It bears a history of not less then 5000 years.

It may be noted that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of festivity at this hill shrine and this month long fest in honour of the twin goddess is the biggest fair of India held at any religious shrine.

As per the report available, on the second Tuesday of Chaitra festival around 10,000 babies offered their hairs to the goddess and the number this year surpassed the number registered in the corresponding Tuesday of the previous years.

The festivities started at this shrine from Monday midnight itself and throughout the night there were cultural programmes to entertain the devotees. After the traditional ceremonial works, the sanctum of Maa Tara Tarini opened at around 1 a.m in the morning and darshan started after that.

Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division, Odisha, Shri Laxmi Narayan Nayak, Secretary Fisheries Government of Odisha Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Ganjam District Collector Shri VK Pandian, Superintendent of Police Berhampur and Ganjam and many other senior state and central government officials, apart from the executive officer and all other office bearers of Tara Tarini Development Board, were present on the occasion.

Last year on the third Tuesday of Chaitra, more than 6 lakh people visited the hill shrine. Therefore, sensing that, the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) is making elaborate arrangements for the smooth darshan of devotees on the upcoming 3rd and 4th Tuesdays.