Maha Ashtami rituals of goddess Durga performed

Bhubaneswar: Dusshera celebrations reached the peak with Maha Ashtami puja today. Devotees made beelines at puja pandals and shrines to perform the rituals.

Amid ‘hulahulis’ and chanting of hymns, devotees offered prayers to Goddess Durga in temples as well as the grand pandals set up across the city.

Devotees adorn themselves in new clothes and thronged the puja pandals early in the morning. The crowd continued throughout the day. Several pandals also follow the practice of offering a special 'Ashtami Bhog'.

Weapons of the Goddess were also worshiped as per the ritual of the Maha Ashtami day called 'Astra Puja'.

The rush at the mandaps has increased since yesterday when Saptami marked the beginning of pandal hopping.

Families with elders and children paid visit to the various mandaps while youngsters braved the crowd to have a glimpse of the Goddess. Many are seen capturing their trip to the pandals with slefies.