Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Dussehra, the conclusion of Durga Puja festivities, puja pandals across the state today witnessed huge footfall of devotees since morning on the occasion of Maha Navami today while religious fervour is at its peak on all shakti peethas for celebration of Vijaya Dashami.
As per tradition, the ritual of invocation of Sun God or Surya Puja and other important rituals were conducted on the ninth day of the Durga Puja today. Devotees in large number thronged the puja pandals and offered prayers to the goddess since early morning as sound of gong and chanting of hymns reverberated through the air filling it with devotion and spirituality.
On the occasion, Kumari Puja, a special ritual aimed towards worshipping of minor girls was also conducted in various pandals.
While Maha Navami rituals are underway at puja pandals, the auspicious timing for Navami ritual concluded at 12.12 pm today in Shakti Peethas. Subsequently, Vijaya Dashami rituals have been initiated.
"We wash the feet of minor girls, adorn them in new costumes, paint their feet with red dye and worship them as mother as they symbolise Shakti, the feminine power," a priest said at Jaydev Vihar Durga Puja pandal said.
According to mythology, on Maha Navami, Goddess Durga made her final assault on demon Mahishasura, and the following morning, on Vijaya Dashami, she triumphed over him.
Meanwhile, with just few hours before the Dussehra, preparations for the final festive day are in the last phase as shopping malls, jewellery shops are witnessing huge public rush for shopping.
Similarly, puja committees are also giving last touches for the Ravana Podi Utsav tomorrow. Adequate security and traffic arrangements have been made in view of the event in major cities of the State.