image credits: Odia Live
The Maa Hingula Yatra is a spirited festival of faith, and tradition in Odisha’s Angul district. It is held annually at the Hingula Peeth near Gopalprasad on the banks of the river Singhada. In 2025, the festival will be observed on April 11, coinciding with Bishnu Damanaka Chaturdasi Tithi as per the Odia Panjika. This yatra honours Goddess Hingula, a deity worshipped in the form of fire, symbolising purity and divine energy.
What is the Legacy of Goddess Hingula?
Goddess Hingula holds a unique place in Odisha’s spiritual landscape. The peeth at Gopalprasad, located about 30 km from Angul, is one of several sacred sites dedicated to her, with others existing in Jwalamukhi (Assam), Karachi, and Kabul. Known as Hingulei or Hingulakshi, she is linked to the colour of vermilion, a red like fire and is believed to bless devotees with perfection in cooking and the fulfilment of desires. The 15th-century poet Sarala Das, in his Sarala Mahabharat, describes her as a manifestation of Goddess Sarala, worshipped by King Nala of Vidarbha for his culinary mastery.
A fascinating legend ties Goddess Hingula to Lord Jagannath in Puri. It is said that when Queen Gundicha sought to introduce sixty pautis of bhoga (daily offerings) for Lord Jagannath, the king was divinely instructed to worship Hingula for flawless preparation. While being brought from Vidarbha by King Nala, the goddess, in her fiery form, halted at Gopalprasad Gada. A celestial voice declared it her permanent peeth, with her influence extending to the kitchen of Shree Mandir in Puri, where a sacrifice is offered to her before cooking begins.
The Festive Grandeur of Hingula Yatra
The Hingula Yatra, celebrated with pomp and ceremony in Talcher sub-division, is the most significant festival in Angul district. Preparations begin on a Thursday in the dark fortnight of Chaitra, when the principal worshipper, Dehury, undertakes austerity, living apart from his family and cooking once daily in a special oven. The main worship occurs on Bishnu Damanaka Chaturdasi, marked by vibrant rituals and a deep sense of community. Devotees offer items like jaggery, ghee, silk, and sweets such as rasiladu and kushi gaja directly to the goddess’s fire, symbolising an intimate connection free of intermediaries.
A key ritual involves the Patiara, who, possessed by the goddess after the Sodasopachara (sixteen rituals), indicates her direction of appearance. Dehury then locates her fiery form at midnight, pacifying it with Sabari Mantra and charcoal. Over days, the fire grows, culminating in a grand spectacle on the final day. The procession of Alam is accompanied by traditional instruments like conches and drums. Notably, the yatra transcends caste barriers, embodying the principle of “Basudhaiba Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).
How to Reach the Hingula Peeth?
For those planning to attend the Maa Hingula Yatra on April 11, 2025, the site is accessible from Talcher, just 15 km away. The nearest railway station, Talcher, is 12 km from Gopalprasad, while Bhubaneswar Airport, 150 km away, serves as the closest air link. The peeth’s is located in the south-east direction.
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