Visakhapatnam: The consecration ceremony of the newly constructed Lord Shiva Temple was performed in a grand fashion at Sri Jagannath Temple Complex, Sector-9, Ukkunagaram from February 3 to 6. A troupe of seven priests came from Bhubaneswar to perform the 4-day long consecration ceremony. Padmasree awardee sculptor Sudarsana Sahoo from whom the deities (Linga, Brushava and Parswa Devata) were brought also attended the function. As part of the ceremony, many social, spiritual and cultural programmes were organised. The ceremony began with Ankurarpana on Maghasaptami. RINL Director (Projects) P.C. Mohapatra and president of ViSteel Mahila Samithi president Bindoo Mohapatra took part in the inaugural ritual.
One of the important rituals was Jaladhibasa (Kalasa Yatra), which was
performed on Saturday. As many as 108 devotees walked down barefoot with a pot of water from Kanithi Balancing Reservoir to the temple amid bhajans and kirtans. Later a yagna was performed with sacred bathing of idols called ‘Bigraha Mahasnana’ on Sunday. Mr. Sahoo perfomed ‘Chakhyu Daan’ before the bathing ritual.
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‘Bigraha Nyasa’ and ‘Linga Sthapana’ were followed by Prana Pratistha on MondayRINL Chairman-cum-Managing Director P. Madhusudan with ViSteel Mahila Samithi honorary president Gowri Annapurna offered puja after the ‘Prana Pratistha’. During the ceremony, a special counter for distribution of prasadam was opened by Utkalika Cultural Association.
A grand Samaradhana (community lunch) was arranged on Sunday which was attended by over 5,000 devotees. A group of 20 cooks from Bhubaneswar were brought for preparation of dishes, according to UCA secretary A.P. Sahu.