Bhubaneswar, April 3: The biennial Thakurani yatra, a major festival in Berhampur, began yesterday and will continue till May 2.

The festival was last observed in 2015 from March 28 to April 25.

Thakurani yatra has been recognized as the sixth state festival of Odisha by the state tourism and culture department. The recognition was accorded in 2014.

The five other state festivals are Dhanu yatra in Bargarh, Parab in Koraput, Mukteswar and Rajarani Mahosav in Bhubaneswar and the Konark festival. The department has provided Rs 1 crore for the development of Buddhi Thakurani temple in the city.

Director of All India Radio, Berhampur, Hrushikesh Panigrahi, who has done research on the festival said: "This recognition is a great step for popularising and preserving the tradition."

Police have made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order during the Thakurani yatra. Berhampur superintendent of police Asish Singh said CCTV cameras had been installed at 14 strategic locations across the city. Twelve platoons of police force have been deployed to control the crowd, Singh said.

According to historians, the cult of Buddhi Thakurani originated along with the emergence of Berhampur town around 1672 AD. Dera (weaver) community, who came to erstwhile Mahuri estate on the invitation of its king, had started the festival.

The "Ghata Yatra" was started to highlight the tradition of worshiping Thakurani and to use it as a platform for promotion of silk products.

The date for Thakurani yatra was fixed by the yatra management committee at the house of Desi Behera, chief of the Dera community, on March 17.

Buddhi Thakurani is considered as the daughter of the Desi Behera and it is said that the deity stays with his family during the entire yatra period in a temporary abode built in front of the house.

"I formally invited Buddhi Thakurani to visit my house after offering prayers in the temple last night," said Desi Behera P Durga Prasad.