Maha Baruni Snan, a festival of taking holy bath by Hindu devotees, was held at the traditional pilgrimage site of Sita Ghat on the premises of Sri Sri Mata Sita Temple in Kaptai of Rangamati, on the occasion of Madhukrishna Trayodashi.
Marking one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community, thousands of devotees gathered today at the Sita Ghat to perform Baruni Snan.
Devotees from the Chattogram Hill Tracts and various upazilas of Chattogram performed ritual bathing in the historic Karnaphuli River, offered prayers at the Sita Temple, Shambhunath Temple, and Kali Temple, and received mahaprasad, expressing their wishes to Goddess Sita.
On the occasion, round the clock Tarak Brahma Mahanamjoggo and a Sita fair were also held in Kaptai.
The Sita Temple has turned into a grand gathering of people regardless of caste, creed, or religion. Devotees were seen visiting and exploring various historical relics at the temple.
During conversations with the media, teacher Abhijit Sarkar and teacher Bulbuli Karmakar, who came from Lichubagan in Rangunia, said they felt blessed to visit this historic and sacred pilgrimage site.
"We are visiting the various relics of Goddess Sita and purifying ourselves by taking part in the Maha Baruni Snan," said Abhijit.
NGO official Tushar Dey, who came from Dhalghat in Patiya, Chattogram, said, "I visited the Sita Temple today and took part in the Baruni Snan."
Devotees Palash Chakraborty from Syedbari in Rangunia and Shimul Chakraborty from Kanukhil village said they participated in the Maha Baruni Snan at the prehistoric Sita Ghat temple and visited different temples.
President of the temple management committee, Samlendu Bikash Das, told the media that devotees have been visiting this historic Sita Temple for long exploring various relics associated with Goddess Sita, including the Sita, Shambhunath, and Kali temples.
Former president of the committee, Samir Prasad Dhar, said it is a historic pilgrimage site that has turned into a major gathering place for people.
On the occasion of Maha Baruni Snan, a discussion meeting was held at the temple premises at 12 noon, organized by the temple management committee.
Former chairman of Kaptai Upazila Parishad, Dildar Hossain, attended the meeting as the chief guest.
He said that the celebration of Baruni Snan has turned the place into a gathering of people of all religions and communities, adding that it is a historic pilgrimage site of the Hindu community and efforts will continue to further develop it.
The meeting was presided over by Samlendu Bikash Das and moderated by Jhulan Dutta, secretary of Kaptai Press Club and Upazila Shilpakala Academy.
The event also featured a recitation from the Gita by Srimat Swami Jyotirmayananda Puri Maharaj, founding principal of Sita Ghat Temple.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
