MAHIMA MELA TO BEGIN IN D’NAL FROM TODAY

DHENKANAL-The world-famous Mahima Mela will be celebrated at Joranda from Monday for three days, 26 km from here. Mahima saints from 58 ashrams in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhara Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Nepal, Bangladesh and Japan have reached the main shrine at Joranda, with their annual collections to meet a big budget event.

Sources said the Mahima saints and devotees have been accommodated at Talamula Mutt, Natima Mutta, Lata Ashram Patna Mutt and Jamusara Mutt. Expecting arrival of at least three lakh devotees during the occasion, the district administration has taken all precautionary measures for uninterrupted power supply, water supply and provision of other facilities at the festival venue. Sanitation has also been taken care of.

Apart from deployment of adequate police forces, bomb detection squad and cops in civil dresses will also be engaged in order to prevent any untoward incidents. Hotels, make- shift shops and other business establishments have already erected temporary sheds by acquiring space near to the temple premises ahead of the festival. Besides, to avoid stampede, temporary barricades have been constructed at the entrance site north and east door of the Gadimandir. Reportedly, the east and south doors of the Gadimandir are to be used for the exit of the devotees. Moreover, to avert rush of vehicles, one way traffic arrangement has been made.

Sources said the Mahima cult originated from Jaka in Dhenkanal district in 1874 against the exploitation of the Brahmins and Zamindars, besides to denounce idol worship and untouchability of the Hindu society. The Mahima cult advocated for promotion of a classless society. It believes on ‘Surya Brahma’ (God as shapeless). Instead of using any hymns, the Mahima saints only chant ‘Mahima Alekh’.

Mahima Gossain, the founder of the Mahima cult, along with his disciple Bhima Bhoi ultimately had selected Joranda as his main abode and started the Mahima Mela there in 1975, by igniting the ‘Akhanda dhuni’ (uninterrupted fire) on Magha Purnami for the welfare of universe. On the instruction of Mahima Gosain, his disciples keep the fire burning during the mela every year.  Mahima Gosain had died in 1976. His disciples have endowed the Gadi Mandir on his grave yard with the symbol of a serpent on the top. Meanwhile, the devotees have erected Ekoisihatia Mandir, Ghanta Mandir and Dhuni Mandir in the holly shrine. The Mahima saints pour tones of ghee in bras chandeliers (Pitala Jhada Deepa) by reciting Mahima Alekh during the ritual.
Source : dailypioneer