Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Konark, Feb 3:

Lakhs of devotees assembled at Chandrabhaga beach near Konark in Odisha’s Puri district to take holy dip and offer prayers to Sun God on the occasion of Magha Saptami today.

As per the Hindu belief, taking a dip early in the morning at Chandrabhaga and watching the rising Sun fulfils all the wishes of the devotees and exonerates all their sins.

Along with Sun God, Mahadev is also worshipped at the place making the celebrations of this ‘Magha Mela’ unique.

Another interesting ritual performed in this famous mela is cooked rice and dried fish (shukhua) dalma which is offered to mythological demon Arkasura in whose name the place has been named as Arka Kshetra.

The food is then eaten together on banana leafs and the cooking pots are broken and thrown into the pond as per tradition.

It is believed that all broken pieces of pots disappear from the pond afterwards.

The district administration had made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.