By Our Correspondent
KORAPUT: Gupteswar was abuzz with devotees who turned up in hordes from across Odisha Andhra and Chatisgarh to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the occasion of third Sombar (Monday) of the auspicious Shravan month. This year, Gupteswar is hosting Shravani mela (fair) after a gap of two years due to Covid-19
With a around one lakh devotees performed puja on Monday. Till late evening, about 1 km long queue of devotees was witnessed. Darshan began around 12:00 am.
Clad in saffron clothes, devotees, mostly Kanwarias, started queuing up for darshan since Sunday afternoon after completing more than 50 km-long foot march from patraput from where they fetched kolab water to pour on the deity
As a crowd control measure, devotees are allowed to offer water through Arghya, a large vessel made of brass and channelised up to the shivalingam
I am happy to come back again during Shravan month here after two years,” said sunil sahu of jeypore who began journey from suturday early morning to reach Gupteswar by Monday.
While there are lakhs of devotees across the nation and 100s of vechiles in the road but it is really sad to see the administration has no adequate facilities for the devotee if there a small function in the district u can see a big arrangements but at a place where lakhs of devotees are visiting there is no medical facility, no water and the traffic is the worst ever people suffered 100s of vechiles where in the roads and made a obstacle to the devotees.
Shivani said the administration should have made proper arrangements specially for the ladies coming while she thanks the volunteers from jeypore and other parts who day long given there service to the kawadiys and the common peoples Mohanty also said there should be special lines should be made for the devotees to see lord Gupteswar as standing hours with senior and kids.
Rituals were performed amid recitation of vedic hyms by the priests, and Har Har Mahadev and Bol Bam chants by devotees.
All the kawadiyas have thanks the local volunteers different civic organization who are helping them to get basic amenities which are lacking from the administration.
