Chaitra Mangalabar or Chaiti Mangalabar is a series of vrat observed on Tuesdays during Chaitra month in Odisha.Women worship Ma Mangala for the well being of their families.
She is known by many names like Mangala, Sarvamangala, Mangalchandi, Bata Mangala. Devi Mangala is known as Bata Mangala as she guided Brahma in the creation process of world. Goddess Mangala occupies an important place in the culture of Shri Jagannatha.The Bata Mangala temple of Puri(13/14th century)& the famous Kakatpur Mangala(15thcentury) temple have their own set of practices in the cult of Jagannath.
Kakatpur Mangala temple is on the banks of Prachi river and the style of temple is “Utkaliya Peedha Vimana Style”.Ma Mangala is also worshiped as a Ghat goddess in Odisha.Every ghat had a designated Mangala and also in the Boita of the Sadhaba/ancient mariners from the Kalinga empire,travelling to distant lands such as South-East Asia.
The puja is performed in open, where the ground is worshiped and the Goddess is offered Pana an offering made of milk and sugar.Devotees throng the Devi temples or Shakti Peethas across the state on these tuesdays of the chaitra month to offer prayers.