Ghodababa Worship Festival draws thousands on Akhan Yatra

Gamharia: The famed Ghodababa worship festival, an integral part of the Akhan Yatra celebrations, unfolded with grandeur and tradition on the second day of Sankranti in Gamharia. Organized by the Kumbhkar Samaj Gamharia, the festival attracted a massive gathering of devotees from across the district who participated in the worship of Lord Balram Jiu with fervent rituals.

Among the multitude of devotees, notable figures such as Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato and State Tribal Welfare cum Transport Minister Champai Soren graced the occasion, offering prayers and seeking blessings for happiness and peace. The festival has its roots in a historical event where Lord Balram was invoked by ancestors to quell a severe epidemic that plagued the area two centuries ago, and since then, the Kumbhkar community has continued this tradition.

Devotees whose wishes were fulfilled expressed their gratitude by offering clay horses and prasad. The morning began with traditional rituals led by Deori Shankar Das and Ganesh Das, praying for the prosperity of the area. Over one lakh devotees from Seraikela, Gamharia, Kandra, Adityapur, and neighboring areas participated in the puja festival, with crowds gathering from early morning until evening.

The festivities extended to a cultural program featuring bhajans performed by local artists. A grand fair added to the festive atmosphere, with the organizing committee distributing Mahabhog to a large number of devotees. To manage the crowd, volunteers were deployed by the temple committee, and Adityapur Police and Traffic Police personnel ensured smooth traffic flow.
The successful organization of the puja festival was attributed to the collaborative efforts of Kumbhkar Committee Gamharia, led by President Manoranjan Bej, General Secretary Bankim Chaudhary, and other dedicated committee members.