Odisha: BJP's Sambit Patra walks barefoot on burning coal bed
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Bharatiya Janata Party's national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Tuesday walked barefoot around 10 meters on a burning coal bed at the ongoing Jhamu Jatra festival in Rebati Raman village of Puri, Odisha. Sharing the video on Twitter, Patra said he worshipped Goddess Dulan by walking on fire, received her blessings, and wished for the villagers' happiness and prosperity.
Twitter Post
Twitter post shared by Patra
शक्ति पूजा हमारी सनातन संस्कृति एवं परंपरा का अहम हिस्सा है, पुरी जिले के समंग पंचायत के रेबती रमण गांव में आयोजित यह दण्ड और झामू यात्रा इसी प्राचीन परंपरा का प्रतीक है।
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) April 11, 2023
इस तीर्थयात्रा में अग्नि पर चलकर मां की पूजा-अर्चना एवं आशीर्वाद प्राप्त कर, खुद को धन्य अनुभव कर रहा हूँ।… pic.twitter.com/oTciqW61Gj
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People inflict pain upon themselves during Jhamu Jatra
During the festival of Jhamu Jatra, which is popular in the Puri district, worshippers inflict pain upon themselves by walking on fire. Some also pierce their bodies with nails to please the deity, so their desires can be fulfilled. Notably, Patra had contested from the Puri constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but lost to Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) Pinaki Misra.