Bhubaneswar, Odisha : The sacred month of Kartik began on Tuesday across Odisha with the observance of Kartik Brata, marking the start of one of the most auspicious and spiritually significant periods in the Hindu calendar. This period in Puri is often dedicated to the rituals of Kartik Brata Puri. Consequently, thousands of Habishyalis, mostly older women widows, took a holy dip in the Tirtha Pushkarini and began their month-long Habisha Brata, offering prayers to Lord Damodar and following a strict spiritual routine dedicated to devotion, purity, and vegetarianism.
From early morning, the holy city of Puri turned into a sea of faith as pilgrims, particularly Habishyalis, filled every sacred space. As in every year, the district administration arranged elaborate facilities for the convenience of the devotees. Accordingly, officials established four major Habishyali camps this year at Narendra Kona Brundabati Nibas, the Railway Tourist Complex, Bagala Dharmashala, and Kalyani Mandap of the Puri Municipality. Furthermore, around 2,500 Habishyalis registered under the government’s free accommodation programme this season, all participating in the sacred events of the Kartik Brata Puri.
The administration provided all registered Habishyalis with free lodging, food, health facilities, and special darshan arrangements at the Jagannath Temple. In addition, many older women expressed their heartfelt gratitude and joy for staying comfortably. Meanwhile, government officials, volunteers, and temple staff actively extended services to the devotees during the Kartik Brata Puri celebrations.
For the first time, the authorities introduced a separate queue system and special darshan route exclusively for Habishyalis. Inside the Shri Jagannath Temple, priests conducted all rituals under strict adherence to traditional procedures. Moreover, officials enhanced the Mahaprasad arrangements to accommodate the rising number of devotees during the Kartik Brata Puri and ensure smooth distribution.
The health department maintained round-the-clock medical services in all Habishyali camps. Each camp featured ambulance facilities, doctors, nurses, and emergency response units vital for the Kartik Brata Puri functioning. In fact, officials from the district health wing personally inspected the medical posts to ensure readiness.
To strengthen security and crowd management, the Puri Police deployed additional forces across key areas, from the Narendra Pushkarini bathing ghat to the Shri Mandir Singhadwara (Lion’s Gate). In addition, the administration set up holding zones near the temple entrance to manage the flow of devotees and safeguard older pilgrims participating in the Kartik Brata Puri.
Amid tight security, police teams, volunteers, and temple servitors coordinated to facilitate smooth darshan and ritual observance. As a result, the spiritual ambience of Puri echoed with chants of “Damodara Hari Bol” throughout the Kartik Brata Puri.
Furthermore, the administration coordinated with various departments, including tourism, health, municipality, and police, to ensure that this year’s Kartik Brata began on a peaceful and well-managed note. With faith, discipline, and devotion at its core, the Kartik month in Puri, particularly during the Kartik Brata Puri period, once again symbolizes the timeless spiritual heritage of Odisha.
