Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sambalpur, May 29:

Thousands of devotees are waiting to witness the divine wedding of Lord Shiva with goddess Parbati scheduled tonight in Sambalpur district of Odisha. The pre-wedding ritual like sending invitation concluded yesterday and the procession for the marriage will take place late at night.

Around Rs 1.27 crore is estimated to be spent during Sitalsasthi festival (grand wedding of lord Shiva with goddess Parbati). Total 9,000 artists and transgenders are expected to flock to the city in western Odisha from across the nation for the divine wedding.

This year the emphasis has been laid on the exterminated folk art and culture in the wedding procession, said Nandapada Sitalsasthi Yatra Committee president Samir Ranjan.

The Nandapada festival committee has allocated Rs 25 lakh, he added.

While Jhaduapada Committee has made allocation of Rs 27 lakh, Mudipada Committee is spending around Rs 25 lakh for the festival. Similarly, Rs 15 lakh and Rs 13 lakh have been allocated by the Bada Bazar Yatra Committee and Thakurpada Yatra Committee respectively for the ceremony.

According to programme schedule, the wedding will take place on May 29 night, the procession for couple for their return to the temple will be on May 30, the rituals for entering the temple will take place on May 31 evening.