Balangir, Jan. 19 -- Hundreds of tribals today observed the annual 'Sulia Jatra' at Khairguda village in Odisha's Balangir district by sacrificing animals.

The tribals marched in a procession to the ritual site at Khairguda and performed animal sacrifice this morning. To propitiate the presiding deity, the devotees throng the Khairguda village of Kultapada panchayat under Tusura police limits of Balangir district on the second Tuesday ofPousamonth every year with hens and goats for sacrifice.

They believe that offering blood of animals and birds to Sulia, their traditional deity, brings good harvest resulting in prosperity and happiness to their families and the community as a whole.

Notably, there had been a tussle between the distric...