As Puri prepares for the month-long Kartik Habisyali Vrata (Radha Damodara Vrata) starting tomorrow, October 26, Srikhetra witnessed contrasting scenes of devout welcome and administrative strain on Sunday.
While thousands of pre-registered Habisyali mothers received a grand traditional reception, brief unrest broke out at accommodation hubs over unregistered pilgrims demanding entry.
Traditional Welcome for Registered Pilgrims
Under the district administration’s special scheme, over 2,500 eligible Habisyali mothers who completed online verification were assigned to three designated centres: Brundabati Niwas, Mochi Sahi Kalyan Mandap, and the Railway Tourist Complex.
Devotees arriving at Brundabati Niwas were accorded an affectionate welcome with flower garlands, sandalwood paste, and the auspicious sounds of huluhuli (ululation) by administrative officers.
Centre Allocations & Current Registrations
To maintain smooth management, accommodation has been grouped by home districts:
- Brundabati Niwas: Allocated to devotees from Puri, Khordha, Keonjhar, and Bhadrak districts.
- Mochi Sahi Kalyan Mandap: Reserved for pilgrims from Angul, Dhenkanal, and Ganjam districts.
- Railway Tourist Complex: Assigned to devotees from all remaining districts across Odisha.
According to official figures supervised by Puri Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, 2,012 devotees completed physical checks by Sunday evening:
| Accommodation Centre | Registered Devotees (Sunday Evening) |
|---|---|
| Brundabati Niwas | 1,044 |
| Mochi Sahi Kalyan Mandap | 450 |
| Railway Tourist Complex | 518 |
| Total Registered | 2,012 |
Tension Erupts Over Unregistered Devotees
Despite clear administrative guidelines requiring pre-registration and official identity cards, dozens of unregistered Habisyali mothers gathered outside Brundabati Niwas and the Puri Railway Station camp on Sunday afternoon.
Demanding lodging facilities, several unverified devotees attempted to force their way into Brundabati Niwas, leading to brief chaos and a direct standoff with on-duty police personnel. Police officers intervened promptly to secure the gates and restrict access to unauthorized individuals. Similar dissatisfaction was voiced by unverified pilgrims arriving at the Railway Tourist Complex.
With thousands of registered mothers set to begin their month-long spiritual observances, daily Jagannath darshan, and holy rituals tomorrow, all eyes remain on the district administration’s strategy to handle the influx of more pilgrims heading to Srikhetra.
