Sambalpur wears festive look for Sital Sasthi rituals

Sambalpur: The western Odisha city is wearing a festive look for Sital Sasthi festival, which marks the marriage of the Shiva with Parvati. While the rituals of the weeklong festival began on May 20, the divine marriage was solemnised according to Vedic rituals late on Wednesday night.
Thousands of people from across western Odisha gathered in Sambalpur to participate in the marriage of the divine couple. The city streets bustled with excitement as the temples were adorned with decorations for the festive occasion. The marriage was solemnised like any other Hindu marriage. The significance of the festival is that human beings perform the role of parents of Parvati and offer the hand of deity Parvati to Shiva.
In a magnificent barayatri procession, Shiva departed from the city’s temples and proceeded to the residence of Parvati. The procession included local deities, senior residents of the area and thousands of performing artistes.
“The preparation for Sital Sasthi festival starts from the auspicious day of ‘Akshya Trutiya’ with ‘thala utha’ which marks the collection of funds for the festival. The rituals include patrapendi (engagement) followed by niuta (invitation) before the sacred marriage takes place,” said member of Nandpara Sita Sasthi Yatra Committee, Biraj Mishra.
Around 10,000 artistes from across the country have been invited by different Sital Sasthi organising committees of the city this year. The newly-wed deities will embark on a grand procession through the city on Thursday night. The festival will conclude on May 26 evening when the deities will enter the temples.
The tradition of organising the marriage ceremony of the deities started in the 17th century in Sambalpur. The divine wedding first started in Someswar Baba temple of Balibandha. Later, the festival was observed in Balunkeswar temple of Nandpara, Loknath Baba of Jharuapara and Jageswar Baba of Mudipara. However, now several other Shiva temples of the city also observe Sital Sasthi.