Shodasha Upachara Puja begins at Cuttack Chandi Temple amid unfinished construction

The 'Shodasha Upachara Puja' (sixteen-step ritual worship) has commenced at the powerful Shakti Peethas across Odisha from Sunday. The rituals have also begun with the installation of Goddess's sacred pot (Ghat Sthapana) at the renowned Chandi Temple in Cuttack.

The 'Shodasha Upachara Puja' commenced at the half-constructed temple from today. The temple entrance and other spots where found dipped in water and mud. Due to the ongoing construction work at the temple, the installation of the main throne (Simhasana Bedi) for the Goddess could not be completed. This incomplete setup has caused discontent among the priests and devotees present at the temple.

The situation remains sensitive as devotees express their dissatisfaction over the unfinished arrangements, raising concerns about the proper conduct of the auspicious rituals. 

Despite the passage of many years, the construction work of the Cuttack Chandī temple remains incomplete. Starting today, devotees will have the rare opportunity to have darshan of Maa Cuttack Chandi in elaborate traditional attire, along with the Shodasha Upachara Puja being performed daily at the Shakti Peeth.

Thousands of devotees are expected to visit the temple every day to seek the blessings of the Goddess. However, the present condition of the temple raises serious concerns. Due to incomplete construction of the sanctum (Simhasana Vedi), the idol of Maa CuttackChandī has been placed temporarily on a makeshift platform.

Moreover, the entrance path to the temple is in a deplorable state, turning into a muddy, slippery track during rains, making access difficult. There is no parking facility nearby, forcing devotees to park their vehicles wherever space is available.

The outer structure of the temple is deteriorating, with bricks and earth falling apart, exposing the building to further damage. The Yajna Mandap (sacrificial altar) and the Rosh Shala (kitchen for ritual offerings) are also incomplete, posing additional challenges in performing proper worship.

"There are many problems in the temple. Where we will sit and worship? How the people will come? We are deeply concern about it. The promises given to us have not been fulfilled. It could be done in future. We are suffering with the anticipation that something better will happen in future," said Manoj Panda, priest of the temple.

"We will be satisfied with whatever amount of blessings we receive from the Goddess. The mud and water at the temple doesn't seem good. I request the administration that people should not face any kind of problems," said Suneeta Panda, a devotee.

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The current state of the temple calls for immediate intervention from authorities to ensure that the sacred space is preserved properly for devotees and the rituals proceed smoothly.

In 2022, the Odisha government had sanctioned Rs 70 crore for the expansion and development of the historic Cuttack Chandi Temple. The responsibility for the construction work was assigned to OBCC (Odisha Building & Construction Corporation). However, more than three years have passed, and the project deadline is fast approaching, yet no significant progress has been made.

The project has been marred by delays, construction defects, and irregularities, leading to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) being filed in the High Court. Devotees have expressed their deep dissatisfaction over the deteriorating condition of the temple amidst ongoing construction work.

"The devotees are finding mud and water at the entrance of the temple and other places as well. The administration should pay attention towards this," said Sagarika Panigrahi, a devotee.

Meanwhile, representatives of the construction agency have claimed that all necessary measures are being taken, keeping in mind the sanctity of the temple, to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience during the ongoing works.

"The Goddess is getting worshipped during the construction of the temple. We didn't have much scopes to do anything. We have made arrangements for 'Ghata Sthapana. We have put sand at places where water is getting collected for the smooth darshan of the devotees," said KK Pradhan, an OBCC official.