Damnak Chaturdashi is a Hindu auspicious day which falls on the 14th day of the Shukla Paksha (Waxing Phase of moon) in Chaitra month (March – April). In 2024, the date of Damnak Chaturdashi is April 22. The day is of great significance to certain Hindu communities in Odisha, Maharashtra and North India . Special pujas and rituals are performed on the day.
Every year on Bishnu Damanak Chaturdashi(Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi),
Mother Goddess Hingula gives darshan to Her devotees in a state of burning fire at a spot near
Hingula temple in Gopalprasad, around 14 km from Talcher in Odisha.
On Shukla Chaturdashi of Chaitra month, Goddess Hingula, who
is present at Puri Temple Kitchen, takes leave from Puri Jagannath Temple kitchen
and gives 'darshan' to devotees here in form of burning fire.
Before some days of the Chaturdashi, Maa appears near the
temple and informs the chief 'Dehury' about the location of the burning spot
which is kept surrounded with heaps of coal till chaturdashi. On the day of chaturdashi,
a canopy given by the king of Talcher is placed above fire and thousands of
devotees from far and wide irrespective of caste, creed and religion offer
'bhog' into the fire, but interestingly the canopy does not burn. After nine
days a puja called 'sital' is performed on the spot by Talcher king and Dehury.