The biennial Thakurani Yatra will take place in Berhampur from April 4 to May 1, and six platoons of police force will be deployed to ensure safety and security. The ‘Thakurani Yatra’ Management Committee, led by Desi Behera P Durga Prasad, recently held a meeting with Berhampur Sub-Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni C to discuss the festival. Senior officers from the police, fire brigade, BeMC, and PHED were also present. The meeting focused on issues such as managing the crowds of devotees, providing drinking water facilities, and installing CCTV cameras. The BeMC will deploy a mobile van to maintain sanitation during the festival.
The temporary abode of Buddhi Thakurani will be made using 112 pieces of wood, including 48 poles. Bamboo for the structure will be brought from Bikashpur, located on the foothills of Kalua Hills. ‘Chabuka’ wood will be brought from Narendrapur and ‘Salapa’ branches from Kalua hills. The construction of a 120 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 14.6 feet high tent will also take place from ‘Dharmajhanda’ to ‘Gud Bazaar’. This structure will be constructed by Budhia Maharana of Harihar Nagar in Gosaninuagaon and supported by 12 carpenters and six laborers for the last 40 years. The male members of these families engage themselves in the construction work without taking any wages. Forty years ago, the labor charge was Rs 3 and now it is Rs 650 per day, said Budhia Maharana. The masons and laborers have already started the construction work of the temporary abode on Thursday.
