Meru Jatra Festival Banned in Odisha
Odisha’s Ganjam district administration banned the Meru Jatra festival and congregations related to it at temples on the occasion of Mahavishub Sankranti recently.
Meru Jatra
- Meru Jatra marks the end of the 21-day-long festival of penance named ‘Danda Nata’.
- •Danda Nata is celebrated in the month of ‘Chaitra’ (the first month of Hindu Calendar, falling between March-April). The origin of the festival is generally traced to 8th and 9th century AD after the decadence of Buddhism in Orissa.
- •The danduas (people who participate ....