Puri (Orissa), Jan 4 : Mahodadhi Arati was conducted at the Shankaryacharya Mutt of Gobardhan Peeth here on Sunday.

The ritual was performed under the supervision of Nischalananda Saraswati.

"We consider sea as our god. If it gets angry then it can destroy the world. That''s why we perform prayer in order to calm the sea," said Srikant Ji, A Devotee.

According to Vijayramanuj Das, Mahant the ritual is performed to destroy the evil forces.

"The prayer is done to fight against terrorism that we have before us and also against violence spread by the Maoists. In order to stop all this we need a revolution and that''s why we are performing this ritual,” Das said.

The ritual was also attended by Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb. Devotees, saints and seers from all over the country were present on the occasion.

A total of 1008 aratis, a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to the deity, was offered to the sea god for world peace. (ANI)