TURA: A three day Hindu religious event marked by offerings, including bird and animal sacrifice, to goddess Kali by devotees seeking her blessings began in Babedpara village of Selsella on Monday. The organizers of the Charantala Mela are expecting lakhs of devotees to congregate at the Kali temple during the three-day event which is in its 54th year of celebration.
Devotees from as far as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and even neighbouring Nepal and Bangladesh annually throng the Charantala Mela to give offerings seeking blessings as well as thanksgiving to the goddess.
The issue of animal and bird sacrifice has been a contentious issue among many, particularly animal rights activists given the widespread sacrifice of birds, including ducks and geese, and goats, with many calling for an end to the practice.
nevertheless, the annual celebration has been witnessing a rise in the number of visiting devotees from beyond the region.
Organizers of the Mela claim the footfall of devotees at the festival rise to several lakhs every year.
The history behind the establishment of the Charantala Kali temple dates back to over six decades.
According to devotees and members of the temple trust, it was in the year 1965 that a small pox epidemic hit the area causing innumerable suffering among the inhabitants of the area and death to around 20 people.
It is believed that in the midst of the suffering the goddess appeared in a dream to a local person by the name of Yuvraj promising an end to all the suffering. She is said to have asked for a temple to be devoted to her name.
Locals from the area soon after came up with a makeshift temple at the chosen place to offer prayers and ever since the annual event has been transformed into a fair where thousands congregate during the three-day festival held on auspicious dates that fall sometime between April and May.
Over the years, a magnificent temple has come up at the site, constructed from generous donations given by devotees. A multi-purpose transit hall to tend to the rising number of devotees has also been constructed through government funding under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF).
