Sambalpur: Hundreds of devotees thronged Samaleswari Temple to witness the ‘Dhabalamukhi Besha’ of Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of undivided Sambalpur district, on the occasion of Mahalaya.
Maa Samaleswari remains dressed in red costume round the year except on Mahalaya when it changes to white. The ‘Dhabalamukhi Besha’, also referred to as ‘Ganga Darshan’. It is believed that the darshan of the Goddess in the Besha is as good as taking a holy dip in the Ganga.
During the Navaratra, the Maa Samaleswari would be adorned with different Beshas like Sailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kusumanda, Skandhamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagouri and Raja Rajeswari. During these nine days, the temple also witnesses huge turnout of devotees from Odisha and neighbouring States.
Mahalaya, which marks the beginning of Durga Puja celebrations, is here. It is observed at the end of Shradh or Pitru Paksha, a 16-day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors.
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