Chatrapur's most important cultural event, the Thakurani Yatra takes place every two years (in even years) and transforms the otherwise quiet town into a major pilgrimage hub. The festival honours the presiding goddess Thakurani and centres on a procession of decorated chariots pulled through the main streets by thousands of devotees. Traditional music, dance, and offerings fill the days surrounding the procession.
If your timing coincides with the festival, it is worth stopping — it is the kind of deeply local religious event that rarely makes it into guidebooks. The atmosphere is intense and welcoming. The festival usually falls in the months of Chaitra or Vaisakha (March–April); check locally for the exact dates, as they vary according to the Hindu calendar.