Joranda decked up for Magha Mela

DHENKANAL: The Magha Mela, the biggest event of the Mahima sect is here, and Joranda, the group's international headquarters, is all set to host the grand occasion that starts on February 16.
As thousands of monks and devotees are expected to throng the internationally known fair, the district administration is busy arranging facilities like drinking water, sanitation, parking lots, security personnel etc.For the interest of the visitors, the state tourism department has made elaborate arrangements by spending Rs 1.12 crore for the fetivities at Joranda and Tapoban. The Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has opened a big yoga centre, a new panthasala, two overhead water-tanks, an information centre, a number of toilet-facilities etc., Dhenkanal district tourist officer Biswajit Routray said.
Besides, for the first time, this year people will use different routes to enter the fair and come out of it, to avoid traffic-snarls. Cars going towards the mela will use Kaimati road and they will come out via Similia road, said a senior police officer.
The Magha Mela is celebrated on a full moon day in the month of Magha (between January and February) and continues for three days. Devotees of the Mahima sect offer mass prayer at the mela, commemorating the day on which Mahima Gosain, the godhead of the religion, attained salvation.
Mahima Gosain had envisioned a classless society during the 18th century when the lower caste people were tortured by the zamindars and other rich people. He had also opposed the idea of conversion from Hinduism to Christianity. Later, his ideology influenced the society at large. His unconditional spiritual service, the message of love, humanity and universal brotherhood attracted thousands of devotees. The Joranda mela has been being observed since his death in 1876. He had ignited a perennial flame called the Akhanda Dhuni' at Joranda, which continues to burn to this day. During the mela, devotees of other castes, creeds and religions also enter the Mahima shrines known as Gadi Mandir, Dhuni Mandir, Akhanda Bati Mandir and Ghanta Mandir.
The Mahima religion preaches God is shapeless and incorporeal. Unlike other faiths, they do not chant mantras. Instead, they perform khanjani bhajans reciting songs written by Kabi Bhima Bhoi, a popular disciple of Mahima Gosain.
Thousands of sadhus, sanyasins and devotees of Kaupindhari and Bakaldhari samaj across the world have already started thronging the holy place to offer prayer for world peace. The mass prayer includes three stages called Dhuni, Jhada Sadhu Bhikhya and Balya lila. Devotees pour tonnes of pure ghee into the yagna kund while chanting Brahma Alekh or Mahima Alekhthis is called Dhuni. The next rite involves thousands of diyas being placed in a tree-shaped container and lightened for forty eight hours. At the end, devotees will offer prasad to the sadhus and children.
The grand fair is being organized by the Mahanitya Sadhubhakta Mandali (Kaupanidhari society), the Satya Mahima Dharma Dhama Parichalana Samiti (Bakaldhari) and the district administration. Alongside the mela, a commercial fair will also take place. It will have a meena bazar, several exhibitions, opera and drama shows and cultural programmes.