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The quintessential `Jhami Jatra'

Staff Reporter

This annual fair is continuing since 1889

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

`HIGH' HOPES: A devotee throwing offerings on to the roof as a ritual to bring good for their children at the 100-year-old Jhami Jatra held at Elamma Devi temple in Berhampur on Sunday.

BERHAMPUR More than a century-old traditional village fair `Jhami Jatra' was celebrated near the Elamma Devi temple of the city on Sunday.

Urbanisation has not been able to destroy the traditional village fair look of this Jatra. Makeshift merry-go-rounds for children, sellers sitting on ground to sell roasted nuts, bangles, traditional sweets and plastic toys gave it an ethnic rural look. Hundreds of families reached the spot to take part in the fair from early morning and to worship Goddess Elamma.

Unique tradition

Men, women and children threw a traditional sweet `Muan' prepared from puffed rice at the top of the temple, which is the unique tradition of `Jatra'. Amulya Mohapatra said women like her throw these sweets wishing well-being of their children.

"Many also throw a decided number of Muan on this day when their wishes for their children get fulfilled," she added.

According to the priest of the temple, Nilamani Prusty, this annual fair is continuing since 1889. Earlier this temple was at a deserted place far away from the human habitat of the city.

Rituals

People used to come and picnic near the temple on 'Jhami Jatra' day. Now city has engulfed the area. But families could be seen cooking their food near the temple to enjoy a day of picnic near the temple.

In the afternoon some devotees also walked on red hot charcoal as a mark of respect to the deity at the funeral; ground near the temple.

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