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| Idol of Buddhi Thakurani in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy Sunil Patnaik |
Berhampur, Nov. 3: State department of tourism and culture, which has accorded state festival status to the biennial festival of Buddhi Thakurani, popularly known as Thakurani yatra in Berhampur, has provided Rs 1 crore for the development of the temple.
Sanatan Nayak, district tourist officer, Ganjam said: “Another half to one acre of land is required near the temple to provide public utility services like parking space, drinking water and toilets. Nester, an architecture firm of Bhubaneswar, is preparing a blue print for the development plan.”
Manoj Kumar Gantayat, heriditary trustee of the Buddhi Thakurani temple said: “We have much more to do to develop the temple. A shed will be built to help the devotees during summer and monsoon. The devotees need cold water too. We also wish to construct a Kalyan Mandap.”
Earlier, five festivals— Dhanu yatra in Bargarh, Parab in Koraput, Mukteswar and Rajarani in Bhubaneswar and Konark festival— used to have the status of state festivals. The Thakurani yatra was recognized as the 6th state festival and the department expects more funds from the Centre to facilitate the yatra.
Rajendra Patra, a resident of Gate Bazar said: “Sanction of Rs 1 crore for the development is a welcome step. Drinking water and toilet facilities for the devotees should be a priority.”The biennial yatra is celebrated to mark the visit of Budhi Thakurani to her father’s house at Behera Street. Buddhi Thakurani is considered to be the daughter of Desi Behera and the deity stays with her father’s family during the yatra period.