Festive Spirit Fills Sambalpur During Sitala Sasthi
Sambalpur Celebrates Sitala Sasthi with Grand Wedding Procession: The cultural city of Sambalpur is witnessing grand celebrations of the famous Sitala Sasthi festival. Devotees from across the state and beyond have gathered to witness the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
On Thursday night, during the auspicious Mahendra Vela, the sacred marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati was performed with traditional rituals and great devotion. The bride’s family bid a tearful farewell to Goddess Parvati after the wedding ceremony.
Earlier in the day, special rituals such as Tailavisheka and Haladi were conducted. Lord Shiva was beautifully adorned with ornaments and traditional attire before setting out for the wedding procession.
Thousands of devotees joined the grand procession of Baba Balunkeswar from Nandapada. The procession started from Balunkeswar Temple and reached Nariseva Sadan, where the bride’s family warmly welcomed the wedding party. Traditional cultural performances, including Dulduli, Samprada, Dumbaru from Ujjain, Ghanta and Kantara from Andhra Pradesh, added colour to the celebrations.
Similarly, Baba Loknath’s procession, organised by the Aranyak Bijnhal Sitala Sasthi Committee of Jhadupada, moved grandly to Mahanadi Club. The procession featured tribal dances, Cobra Dance, Bagha Nacha, Mukha Dance and Karma Dance, attracting huge crowds.
On Friday night, the divine couple will begin their city parikrama, offering darshan to lakhs of devotees. The procession will continue throughout Saturday before returning to the temple in the evening, marking the conclusion of the Sambalpur Sitala Sasthi Yatra.
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