The much-awaited Dussehra festival is being celebrated across Odisha with all the traditional rituals and religious fervour.
While Maha Navami is being celebrated in all the ‘shakti pithas’ (Goddess shrines) across the State, Maha Ashtami puja is offered in all the puja pandals.
The mandaps are now reverberating with the chanting of mantas. Special rituals like ‘Homa’ and ‘Sandhipuja’ are being performed as part of ‘Sodasha Upachara’ of Goddess Durga.
Other popular rituals like ‘Chandipatha will be performed in the evening. The Goddess is being worshipped with devotion in all the cities of the State including the Twin Cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Jeypore.
Thousands of people are thronging the pandals to get a glimpse of the Goddess and offer special puja on the auspicious day.
The Millennium City of Cuttack is filled with spiritual ambience on the occasion of Maha Ashtami puja in various mandaps. Scores of devotees are making a beeline to have the darshan of Goddess Durga on the special day.
Almost all the puja pandals in the city are witnessing huge crowds. Special lighting arrangements with modern technology-based illumination and impressive theme-based gigantic gates have created a surreal atmosphere in the city. Puja revellers are soaking in the festive mood and all the food stalls and marketplaces are now chock-a-block.
“Most of the rituals started at 6.30 am at our mandap. Mangala Alati, Surya Puja, Guru Puja, Pitru Matru Puja, Sankalpa were performed in order. Maha Ashtami puja will be performed today. Chanda, Munda, Ugratara, Chatusasthi, Yogini, Nabagotrika pujas will be performed as part of Mahastami puja today. Chandipatha will be performed in the evening,” said the priest of Santa Sahi, Bajrakbati Puja Committee.
“We started preparations for Durga Puja from Janmastami. Goddess Durga has arrived on earth to bless us all. Melody and other cultural programmes will be performed for the next three days starting today. Separate responsibilities have been given to all the committee members for the smooth conduct of the puja,” said a senior member of Bajrakbati Puja Committee.