Preparations for Sital Sasthi Jatra begin in Shivalayas of Sambalpur town

Following report is from expressbuzz.com:

SAMBALPUR: Preparation for the Sital Sasthi yatra began on the auspicious Akshaya Trutiya today with the completion of ‘Thala Utha’ ritual in Shivalayas of Sambalpur town. The Sital Sasthi yatra is celebrated to mark the celestial wedding ceremony of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati slated to be held on June 16 this year. 

The ritual was performed with much fanfare in three Shivalayas _ Loknath Baba of Jharuapada, Balunkeshwar Baba of Nandapada and Jageswar Baba of Mudipada.  

During the ‘Thala Utha’ ceremony, puja was performed in the temples amid presence of senior members of the respective localities. The ceremony also marked beginning of fund raising for the forthcoming festival with senior members of the three localities going from door to door in their respective areas for collection of funds.  

This year, Prahallad Agrawal and his wife Suman of Marwaripada, Sisir Kumar Nanda and his wife Pushpanjali of Nandapada and Akshay Kumar Dora and his wife Laxmipriya will perform the role of in-laws for Loknath Baba, Balunkeswar Baba and Jageswar Baba respectively.