Phulbani, The historic bi-annual **Sri Sri Maa Narayani Yatra** in Phulbani entered its 5th day on Monday. The number of devotees and visitors is steadily increasing with each passing day. The management committee and police administration are maintaining tight security, with the entire yatra ground covered under CCTV surveillance. Evening *aarti* and cultural programmes are being live-streamed directly from the yatra ground. Daily, Maa Narayani along with the Pancha Thakurani undertakes a Nagar Bhraman (procession) through the town.
Maa Narayani will proceed from Gambhira to Laxmi Market Road, via Anita Bakery Road to Amalapada Kahna Bilas for *Huma Puja*. From there, the procession will continue via Jail Road, Post Office Chowk, to Jagadish Das Complex on the main road. After puja and aarti, the deities will return to Gambhira via Sriram Nagar Road.
The procession will start from Gambhira, move via Laxmi Market and the main road to Kot Chowk, Natikhandi Sahi Shiva Temple, then to Lawyer Binapani Pradhan’s residence at River Side Colony for puja. It will then proceed via Mandir Chowk to Housing Board Colony, followed by Pattabali Sahi Chowk, Town Planning Colony, GED Colony, PWD Colony, and AJO High School area at Mundia Sahi. The return journey to Gambhira will be via Sriram Nagar Road.
The management committee president Kabula Senapati stated that minor changes in the route may be made if required.
In the evening, large crowds gather to witness the grand *aarti*. During the Nagar Bhraman, Maa Narayani is accompanied by traditional musical instruments and *patuas*. Police, along with committee members including Secretary Sanjit Patra, Joint Secretary Shiva Panda, and other members like Vijay Kumar Mahanti, Harishchandra Maharana, Mahendra Subuddhi, Aditya Tripathy, and Thukunder Sethi, along with many volunteers, are ensuring smooth and disciplined conduct of the procession.
A special cultural evening titled “Sagar Sargam Melody” featuring renowned local artists of Phulbani will be organised on Monday evening. Cultural Secretary Ashok Mahanti informed that Joint Cultural Secretary Ajit Maharana, Binapani Pradhan, Finance Secretary Kamal Behera, and Jaganath Raju are actively supporting the event.
Under the strong leadership of President Kabula Senapati and Vice-President Sujit Kumar Behera, the 27th Maa Narayani Yatra is being conducted with great devotion, grandeur, and perfect peace and order.
The management committee has announced that more attractive cultural programmes will be organised in the coming days.
Sub-Collector and Chairman of the Yatra Management Committee, Bhikari Sahu, is personally monitoring the entire event to ensure it runs smoothly and peacefully. His effective guidance and supervision have been widely appreciated.