The world-famous Magha Mela at Joranda in Dhenkanal begins from Saturday(31/01/2026).

Dhenkanal :  Joranda is the main center of the Mahima religion. All preparations for the fair are complete. This year, the sacred Jhada Deepa will be lit at 5 PM in the evening. Mahima monks, saints, and devotees have arrived from different parts of Odisha. Devotees have also come from Nepal, Gujarat, Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. This year, the Magha Mela completes 153 years. It also marks 200 years of the birth of Mahima Swami. This information was shared by Mahima Jyoti Yatra coordinator Pradyumna Rath.

On this occasion, sacred lamps will be lit at the Gadi Temple, Bati Temple, Dhuni Temple, and Shunya Temple at the Mahima Peetha.
Monks and devotees will offer ghee into the fire for the welfare of the world and all living beings.

On the 1st February , Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to visit Joranda. He will lay foundation stones for various development works. Due to the Magha Mela and the Chief Minister’s visit, the administration is on high alert.
Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and SP Abhinab Sonkar are present at Joranda to monitor all arrangements.

To maintain peace and order, heavy police deployment has been made this year. Under the direct supervision of the SP, 2 Additional SPs, 5 DSPs, 16 Inspectors, 60 SI and ASI officers, and 14 platoons of police force will be deployed for the fair. For the Chief Minister’s visit, 15 platoons of armed police force will also be deployed. Search dogs, metal detectors, CCTV cameras, and the anti-dacoity squad will be used to ensure security, the SP said.