TaraTarini Mela - Festivals of Odisha

TaraTarini Mela is  one of the famous and biggest fair and festival of Ganjam District but also throughout the state Odisha, also known as  Chaitra Parba or Chaitra Mela, which takes place on each Tuesday in the month of Chaitra i.e., from around mid March to mid-April at Tara Tarini pitha at a distance of 30 Kms from Berhampur.

On Tuesday the temple remains open for the Darshan of the deities from 1.00 AM (mid-night on Monday) till 11 PM (of Tuesday). During that period Pahada of the deities is confined to night-time only.

Thousands of devotees come from every corner  of the district as well as out side the State in order to have darshan of Goddess TaraTarini , congregate at the up-hill and downhill temple complex from Monday night.
 A grand congregation takes place on the 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month is considered to be most auspicious days.

Devotees are offered puja to the Chalanti Pratima of deities placed at the Bije Pitha for the Bije Pratima. However Darshan of the deities in Garbha Griha (Sanctum of the main temple) is allowed.

Hair offering are made in Special arrangement for. 250 barbers at the hill top and more than 500 barbers at the down hill (Foot Hill) at the barber shed are engaged to help their hair offering of their children and other devotees. Hair offering continues from mid-night on Monday till 6 PM of Tuesday  and serve a sweet food item called amutmani bhoga( mixture of curd, milk, ghee, honey, sugar and also dry friuts and fruits) which is very taste offered to goddess Maa TaraTarini.. It is the main specialty of this mela. After offering hair devotees are celebrated through feast.

    Special Khechidi Bhoga (Fried Rice) is supplied to the devotees and also other sweet items.

    The legendary information on Tara Tarini has been given in the chapter  tourist spot  for reference of the visitors.