Lakhs of devotees gather at Gopal Chand Sadhu Thakur's 104th Baruni Snan Utsav, Matua Mela in Morelganj
Morelganj (Bagerhat) Correspondent
Lakhs of devotees gather at the 104th Baruni Snanotsav of Shri Dham Laxmikhali Gopal Chand Sadhu Thakur in Morelganj, Bagerhat, around the 215th auspicious appearance festival of Purnabraksha Shri Shri Harichand Thakur. The Baruni Snanotsav of this fair started from 8 am on Monday and will continue till 8 am on Tuesday.
Thousands of Matua devotees, both men and women, of the Matua community of traditional religion, have been participating in this fair since night. Originally, Matua devotees at this place bathe in the ocean of desires to get rid of worldly sins and attain spiritual welfare. The fair ground is now filled with the footsteps of millions of devotees. Devotees intoxicated by the sound of the Harinam, accompanied by the drums and flags.
This time, the central leaders of Bangladesh Matua Maha Sangha, Upazila Executive Officer Habibullah, and various administrative officials participated in the Baruni Snan Utsav, said Sagar Sadhu Thakur, Central General Secretary of Bangladesh Matua Maha Sangha, who is the head of the Gdinashin Sebait of Sridham Likhali.
In commemoration of the 215th birth anniversary of Purnabrahma Shri Shri Hariguru Chand Thakur, a gathering of Matua devotees has been held every year on this day at the Leeladham of his devotee Shri Shri Gopal Chand Sadhu Thakur in the remote village of Laksmikhali in Jiudhara Union of Morelganj Upazila since Bengali 1328. Which is now also known as 'Gopal Sadhu' Matua Mela'.
Sagar Sadhu Thakur, the current general secretary of the Bangladesh Matua Maha Sangha, said that more than 400 groups registered within the country and many devotees from neighboring countries like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and others participated in the bath today to get rid of worldly sins and attain spiritual welfare. 15 days after the Orakandi fair, the Baruni bath and Maha Mela are held every year on this day at Lakshmikhali, the home of Thakur, Gopal Chand's Leela Niketan, Morelganj. While the bath festival is a one-day festival according to the date, the Matua fair is basically a three-day fair. Around this fair, various shops selling ornaments and cosmetics for worshippers of traditional religions have set up in the fair grounds.
In this regard, Morelganj Police Station OC Md. Mahmudur Rahman said that all kinds of preparations have been made for the safety of devotees and visitors gathered at the Gopalchand Mela. District Superintendent of Police Md. Hasan Chowdhury has already inspected it and the accompanying force including 112 police officers is present in the field round the clock.
Morelganj UNO Habibullah said that strict security arrangements have been made by the administration for the devotees coming to the traditional Laxmikhali Gopal Chand Snan festival in this region. The police administration's mobile team, volunteers, Ansar, police team and a magistrate are there round the clock. He himself has also visited twice and is taking round-the-clock information. This afternoon, a team of administrative officials including the District Commissioner, Additional Divisional Commissioner will go to Laxmikhali, the official said.
