TURA, May 5 � All roads in the Garo Hills region led to the village of Babedpara today which is celebrating the 51st annual Charantala Mela. The temple built in the image of Goddess Kali saw devotees throng by the lakhs in what is the biggest gathering of worshippers of the Goddess in the region. Some even walked the whole distance from Tura to the tiny village to show their devotion. The festival this year is being held from April 4 to 6.
The three-day festival sees about 4-5 lakh devotees make the trip every year, with some even coming from Bangladesh and Nepal, to pray. The site is also marked as a part of religious tourism, under the Tourism Department, within the State and lies in the Selsella block in West Garo Hills, about 52 kms from Tura.
Explaining the origin of the temple and the annual gathering, Charantala Mela Committee president Bholanath Koch said, �It was in the year 1965 before the birth of Bangladesh that a small pox epidemic led to the loss of more than 20 lives. It was then that Goddess Kali appeared in a vision of a person by the name of Yuvraj. She asked for a temple to take care of the ills. There was a meeting after which the current location was chosen for a temple. The annual festival has continued ever since.�
The site saw the inauguration of a new building under the BRGF Scheme yesterday, aptly named Multi Purpose Transit Hall, to cater to the growing number of followers every year. It was inaugurated by local MLA Clement Marak in the presence of West Garo Hills DC Pravin Bakshi, who himself is a devotee.
The committee, however, admitted that there still are a few niggles in providing the best to the lakhs of visitors.
�The bridge connecting the temple is yet to be completed. It is supposed to be completed by the year end, as promised by our MLA. Water is still an issue as catering to the needs of the huge number of devotees every year needs a lot of water. The PHE supply is currently not enough and we have requested for an expansion,� said secretary Winson Koch.
The temple may see a new idol of the Goddess next year as indicated by the committee. �We had ordered for a marble Kali idol but it was not complete. We are hopeful it will be done by the next year,� added vice president Sushil Koch.
TURA, May 5 � All roads in the Garo Hills region led to the village of Babedpara today which is celebrating the 51st annual Charantala Mela. The temple built in the image of Goddess Kali saw devotees throng by the lakhs in what is the biggest gathering of worshippers of the Goddess in the region. Some even walked the whole distance from Tura to the tiny village to show their devotion. The festival this year is being held from April 4 to 6.
The three-day festival sees about 4-5 lakh devotees make the trip every year, with some even coming from Bangladesh and Nepal, to pray. The site is also marked as a part of religious tourism, under the Tourism Department, within the State and lies in the Selsella block in West Garo Hills, about 52 kms from Tura.
Explaining the origin of the temple and the annual gathering, Charantala Mela Committee president Bholanath Koch said, �It was in the year 1965 before the birth of Bangladesh that a small pox epidemic led to the loss of more than 20 lives. It was then that Goddess Kali appeared in a vision of a person by the name of Yuvraj. She asked for a temple to take care of the ills. There was a meeting after which the current location was chosen for a temple. The annual festival has continued ever since.�
The site saw the inauguration of a new building under the BRGF Scheme yesterday, aptly named Multi Purpose Transit Hall, to cater to the growing number of followers every year. It was inaugurated by local MLA Clement Marak in the presence of West Garo Hills DC Pravin Bakshi, who himself is a devotee.
The committee, however, admitted that there still are a few niggles in providing the best to the lakhs of visitors.
�The bridge connecting the temple is yet to be completed. It is supposed to be completed by the year end, as promised by our MLA. Water is still an issue as catering to the needs of the huge number of devotees every year needs a lot of water. The PHE supply is currently not enough and we have requested for an expansion,� said secretary Winson Koch.
The temple may see a new idol of the Goddess next year as indicated by the committee. �We had ordered for a marble Kali idol but it was not complete. We are hopeful it will be done by the next year,� added vice president Sushil Koch.
