The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Bandha call affects‘Havishialis’

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Monday, Oct 13, 2008
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Bandha call affects‘Havishialis’

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Thanks to a bandh call given in south Orissa, several aged ‘Havishialis’ had two extra days added to their month long penance of ‘Kartik’.

The elderly women of Orissa, especially the widows prefer to use the Hindu month of Kartik for hard penance. They are called ‘Havishialis’ as they observe a strict regime of rituals and control of sense organs, during this period which is called ‘Havisha’. Most of them prefer observe this month long penance away from home in the holy city of Puri for the month. They spend their whole day from morning till night in the worship of Lord Jagannath. Largest chunk of these devotees in Puri during the month of Kartik are from south Orissa especially Ganjam district. The month penance starts from Kumar Purnima and ends on Kartik Purnima.

Usually the Havishyalis reach Puri a day before or on the morning of Kumar Purnima, which falls on Tuesday this year. But the plans and schedules of these women was dishevelled by a bandh call by a group of left parties. Due to this bandh call the Havishyali’s had to reschedule their journey to Puri. Now we do not know how we would spend two extra days in Puri,” said Haramani Dei.

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