Tara Tarini Temple, Ganjam: History, Timings & Visitor Guide

Tara Tarini Temple is open every day, usually from early morning to late evening with a break in the afternoon. Darshan and aarti timings change with the season and on festival days.

• MorningOpens early morning (around 5 to 6 AM)
• AfternoonShort break around midday at many temples
• EveningEvening aarti around sunset, closes by about 8 to 9 PM

Check the exact timings on the official website before your visit.

Dress Code & Temple Rules

• DressModest, traditional clothes covering shoulders and knees
• FootwearRemove before entering; use the shoe stand
• PhotographyNot allowed inside the sanctum
• Not AllowedLeather items, tobacco, alcohol, non-veg food
• QueueFollow queue lines and staff instructions on festival days

The main idols inside the garbhagriha are two stone female faces adorned with gold and silver ornaments. Two brass heads representing their Chalanti Pratima are in between. There is also a small murti of the Buddha in the garbhagriha.

Chaitra Jatra, also known as Tara Tarini Jatra takes place on the Tuesdays (or Maṅgaḷabāra) of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Devotees believe that getting their children tonsured is auspicious during this period. Hundreds of barbers are kept near the temple to aid the devotees. During this festivity, special Khechidi Bhoga is served to the deities which later sold to devotees for ₹7 per serving from Monday midnight till 6 PM Tuesday.

The Sankranti Mela is held on each Sankranti, i.e every 1st day of the each Hindu month. This day is considered to be very auspicious for Tantra Sadhakas. The temple stays open from 5:30 AM to 10 PM for the darshan of the deities. Offerings are not allowed inside the garbhagriha during the festival, they are offered to the Bije Pratima which is kept on the special Bije Pithastal during the festival, located near the temple's gate. Special khechudi bhoga prepared and sold to devotees for ₹7 per packet by the temple trust.

Legend & Significance

It is believed that the Shakti Pithas are the locations where the body parts of Maa Sati fell, after being cut by Sudarshana Chakra of Lord Vishnu during the events of the Daksha yajna. It is said that Tara Tarini Mandir is located where Maa Sati's breasts fell.

The temple is one of the four Adi Shakti Pithas: the others being the Kamakhya Temple where the genitals fell, the Vimala Temple where the feet fell, and the Kalighat Temple where the toes of the right foot fell.