Tara Tarini hill shrine

Why in News?

• The annual Chaitra Jatra festival scheduled to be held on 17th March, 2020 at Odisha’s Tara Tarini hill shrine has been cancelled as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 infection.
• The festival is held on each Tuesday in the month of Chaitra, which falls in March-April as per the English calendar.

About Tara Tarini hill shrine

• Tara Tarini hill shrine, located at a hilltop on banks of the Rushikulya river, is a major centre of Shakti worship in Odisha.
• The twin goddesses Tara and Tarini represent one Shakti and are the main deity of Ganjam district (Odisha).
• Tara is an important deity of Mahayana Buddhist Sect.
• This temple had been built as per traditional Rekha style of Odia temple architecture, as per which famous Jagannath temple of Puri and Lingaraj temple of Bhubaneswar have been built.
• Unlike other temples, it wasn’t built under the patronage of a King or a Noble, the temple was set up by a Brahmin named Basu Praharaj as per popular legend.
• Since its inception it has been an established seat of Tantrism.
• Indian Navy’s sailboat INSV Tarini was named after Tara Tarini hill shrine.The first Indian all-woman crew had circumnavigated the globe in INSV Tarini.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Tara Tarini hill shrine:

1.Tara Tarini hill shrine is located at a hilltop on banks of the Rushikulya River in Odisha.

2.This temple had been built as per traditional Rekha style of Odia temple architecture.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question