Thousands Take Holy Dip at Chandrabhaga Beach on Magha Saptami

Konark: Thousands of devotees gathered at Chandrabhaga beach near the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha’s Puri district, on Sunday to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God on the auspicious occasion of Magha Saptami.

Magha Saptami, observed on Magha Shukla Saptami every year, marks the birth of the Sun God. As per tradition, devotees assemble at the sacred site before sunrise to witness the first rays of the Sun and then take a ritual bath in the Chandrabhaga River and the nearby sea, coinciding with the Sun’s transition to its northern course.

According to age-old beliefs, taking a holy dip on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the Magha month is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin-related ailments.

Apart from worshipping the Sun God, devotees also offer prayers to Lord Shiva, adding a distinct spiritual significance to the Magha Mela celebrations at Konark.

One of the unique rituals associated with the mela is the offering of cooked rice and dried fish dalma, locally known as shukhua dalma, to the mythological demon Arkasura, after whom Konark is believed to have derived its ancient name, Arka Kshetra. Following the offering, devotees partake in the food together on banana leaves. As part of the ritual, the earthen cooking pots are then broken and thrown into a nearby pond, where, according to tradition, the fragments are believed to mysteriously disappear.

The annual Magha Saptami festival continues to draw large crowds, blending devotion, ritual, and centuries-old traditions at the historic Konark site.