ମା’ ତାରିଣୀ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଏକ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଦେବୀ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଭକ୍ତି ଓ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧା ଦେଶର ଅନେକ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ବିସ୍ତୃତ। ମା’ ତାରିଣୀଙ୍କ ବ୍ରତକଥା ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବିଶେଷ ରୂପେ ପାଠିତ ହୁଏ, ଯାହା ଭକ୍ତି ଓ ଆସ୍ଥାର ପ୍ରତୀକ। ଏହି ବ୍ରତକଥାରେ ମା’ ତାରିଣୀଙ୍କ ଦୟା ଓ କରୁଣାର ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା ଥାଏ, ଯାହା ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କୁ ନୈତିକ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଓ ଆଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମିକ ପଥରେ ପ୍ରେରିତ କରେ। ମା’ ତାରିଣୀଙ୍କ ପୂଜାରେ ନଡ଼ିଆ ଭୋଗ ଅର୍ପଣ କରାଯାଏ, ଯାହା ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ଭାବନାର ସହଜ ପ୍ରକାଶ। ଏହି ବ୍ରତକଥା ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସାହିତ୍ୟର ଏକ ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଅଂଶ, ଯାହା ଭକ୍ତିମାର୍ଗରେ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରେରିତ କରେ।
ମାତା ତାରିଣୀଙ୍କ ବ୍ରତ କାହାଣୀ (Maa Tarini Brata Katha)
Tarini Brata is observed on Shukla Paksha Chaturthi in the lunar month of Ashadha. Maa Tarini, an embodiment of Shakti, is revered at various locations, with her principal shrine situated in Ghatgaon, Kendujhar district, Odisha. Devotees hold deep faith in her divinity and, in addition to worshipping her on Tuesdays and Saturdays, women observe the brata (vow) to overcome troubles and fulfill their desires. They undertake upavasa (fasting) and perform rituals in honor of the goddess, with some tying a red thread on their arm. This regional brata is primarily observed in areas where Tarini temples are located.
Another significant festival is the Tara-Tarini Yatra, held on the Tuesdays of the lunar month of Chaitra in Berhampur city. The Tara Tarini Temple is located approximately 32 kilometers from Berhampur, atop the Kumari hills (also known as Tara-Tarini hill) on the banks of the Rushikulya river. Devotees can reach the temple by ascending about a thousand steps or via a paved road. A small market complex near the temple offers items for puja (worship) and archana (rituals).
The Tara Tarini Temple is considered one of the Adi Shakti Peethas. The goddesses Tara and Tarini are represented by two stone idols adorned with gold and silver ornaments, with two brass heads, known as their Chalanti Pratima (representative idols), placed between them. On yatra days, the temple remains open from midnight on Monday until midnight on Tuesday, suspending the midday pahada (siesta) of the goddesses. Thousands of devotees visit to fulfill their manasika (mental vows), with many performing the mundan (tonsuring) of their children and offering a lock of hair to the goddesses.
Numerous myths and stories surround the goddesses. According to one legend, Adi Shakti appeared as two sisters, Tara and Tarini, in the household of Basu Praharaj, a devotee from a nearby village. The childless couple cared for them as their own daughters. After a few years, the sisters vanished, and Praharaj’s search was in vain. One night, they appeared in his dream, revealing their true identity as Adi Shakti—Tara and Tarini—and instructed him to renovate the temple atop the Kumari hills and establish their presence there. Following their guidance, Praharaj located the dilapidated temple, restored it, and installed the idols. Since then, they have been worshipped at this site, and the yatra is held annually.