Bhubaneswar Jharapada Durga Puja venue shifted

The venue of the Jharapada Durga Puja has been shifted from Jail Road Square to the Melana Ground in Bhubaneswar this year.

As per reports, the Jharapada Durga Puja Committee has already commenced the ritual of 'Mati Anukula' (sacred soil collection). Clay from the Kuakhai riverbank will be used for crafting the traditional earthen idols of Goddess Durga.

For the past 14 years, the festival has been held at Jail Road Square. However, internal disputes among committee members have cast uncertainty over the celebrations. Last year, disagreements surfaced during the festivities, followed by a clash between two groups over a marriage ceremony arrangement at the committee’s Kalyan Mandap. Subsequently, the police imposed Section 163 at the puja pandal, which still remains in force.

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To resolve the ongoing conflict, a new committee has been reportedly formed, which will now organize Durga Puja at the Melana Ground.

Notably, Durga Puja 2025 will be celebrated from September 28 to October 2, with preceding rituals and festivities beginning a week earlier, starting with Mahalaya on September 21. The five key days of worship, Shashthi to Vijaya Dashami, bring the goddess’s divine journey to life in a celebration that blends mythology, art, and community.