Some police personnel also suffered injuries in the violence that took place on Wednesday.
When the revellers were asked to stop the loud music, an irate crowd pelted stones at the police forcing them to resort to mild baton charge.
According to police sources, Balasore district collector had earlier allowed the Puja committees to play DJ music till 12 a.m during the immersion.
However, the music continued to be played beyond the 12 a.m. deadline defying the collector's order creating nuisance for the locals and the ailing.
"We received complaints about the loud sound of the DJ Box. Many locals even sought police help to stop the playing of DJ music near the District Headquarters Hospital located on the stretch from Cinema Chowk to College Square on social media platforms," said a senior police official.
Later, the police rushed to the spot and asked the members of Puja committees to put off the sound boxes.
This irked the crowd who started pelting stones at the police force.
On being informed, Balasore SP Sagarika Nath along with senior police officials, reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
Police also resorted to mild baton charge to disperse the crowd.
Following the incident, Police personnel were deployed at Cinema Chakk, Motiganj, Mandal Bazaar, and Barabati areas of Balasore to maintain law and order.
As many as five persons have been detained for involvement in stone pelting by the Balasore police.
Meanwhile, two groups engaged in a violent brawl during idol immersion in Bhubaneswar on the same day. Three people, including two siblings, were injured in a sword attack by the members of the opposing group at Rasulgarh during immersion of Goddess Durga Idols.
The violence was reported at Rasulgarh during the immersion procession of the Rasulgarh puja committee.
As per reports, a group from Rasulgarh area had an altercation with another group during the procession. Following the argument, a miscreant allegedly attacked the other group with a sharp weapon injuring two in the process.
It is alleged that the attack happened in the presence of the police. When the supporters of the injured persons reached Mancheswar Police Station to lodge a complaint, the police reportedly refused to receive it.
A complainant, Gila Routray said, “I tried to pacify the attackers, but they did not listen to me. Instead, they attacked my nephew and my friend with a sword.”
Another Rasulgarh resident alleged, “The police refused to receive our complaint against the attackers. We want justice and strict action against the attackers.”
Though tension prevailed at Rasulgarh for some time following the attack, the immersion procession was allowed later.
The police refused to comment anything on this matter.
This was not the lone violence reported during immersion procession. A police lathi charge marred the immersion procession in Balasore as well.
Sources said, DJs continued to play loud music till 1am on Tuesday night.
After repeated requests by the police to stop playing DJ music failed, SP Sagarika Nath ordered a lathi charge on the procession which resulted in palpable tension in the area.
Following the lathi charge, some people allegedly pelted stones at the police as well.
The Ravan Podi event, which marks the victory of good over evil, was held at six places in Bhubaneswar. They were Baramunda, Jharpada, Koradakanta, Tomando, Chhatabar and Naharakanta. After the effigies were set afire, spectacular fireworks were on display during the Ravan Podi events. To witness Ravan Podi and the fireworks show, a large number of people turned up. While the puja committees made elaborate arrangements for the Ravan Podi and fireworks, the Commissionerate Police took measures to ensure the safety of the people. Fire engines were also kept ready at the concerned grounds.
“Last year I couldn’t witness the Ravan Podi here. To see the fireworks, I had to wait for two hours. It was really breathtaking. I am very happy,” said a reveller at Baramunda.
Informing about the measures taken for the Ravan Podi events, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh said, “Keeping the guidelines of Ravan Podi in view, security arrangements have been made. We have also taken care of traffic and vehicle parking management. We have made arrangements so that traffic movement is not affected on the highway. We are keeping a watch on the events through a central control room.”
Also read: In these places, Ravan’s effigies not burnt on Dusshera; know the reasons
Likewise, the Ravan Podi was also celebrated in other places like Keonjhar, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Baripada, Berhampur etc.
On Vijaya Dasami day, the demon king’s effigy is burned to mark the victory of Lord Ram against the ten-headed demon king Ravan.
On the Vijaya Dashami, as final preparations were underway to bid adieu to Goddess Durga, unprecedented crowds of devotees thronged puja mandaps in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in the evening.
Immersion rituals were performed after pancha upachar rituals including Mangala alati, Guru puja and Aparajita. The actual immersion will be carried out tomorrow.
A priest of Santa Sahi Bajrakabati Puja Committee said, “Here we have a tradition of offering a different 'prasad' to the Goddess. We offered curd- rice (Dahi Pakhala), fried green leaf (Saga Bhaja), Olati Peetha, and Rasagola.”
A woman devotee visiting a puja mandap in Cuttack said, “Today is Vijaya Dashami –the day which marks the victory of good over evil. We all usually keep waiting for a year for the Goddess to come to the puja pandals. But we are pained when we have to bid adieu to Her. She returns to Her abode by ensuring the triumph of good over evil.”
Even some puja committees arranged tasty ‘Dahi Pakhala’ for the devotees on Vijaya Dashami. Chauliaganj Puja committee had prepared such ‘Dahi Pakhala’ for 10,000 devotes while Gopalpur Puja Committee arranged ‘Dahi Pakhala’ for 5,000 devotees.
“On Dashami, we make a different arrangement for the devotees. We prepare Dahi Pakhala for 10,000 devotees,” said, Lingaraj Bastia of the Chauliaganj Puja Committee.
At several places in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, and Rourkela, some puja mandaps held ‘Sindura Khela,’ wherein women apply vermilion on the forehead of the Goddess and then apply it on one another before bidding adieu to the Goddess.
A woman devotee in Sambalpur said, “We are extremely happy that the Goddess descends on the earth every year.”
On Vijaya Dashami, people in different parts of the country also worship arms and ammunition as per the age-old tradition.
Following this tradition, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took part in the worship of arms in the presence of soldiers at Twang in Arunachal Pradesh.
As per the notification issued by the Twin City Commissionerate Police, the immersion (Bhasani) ceremony will start in Bhubaneswar from 3 pm onwards tomorrow (October 25, 2023).
There are three Bhasani Committees in Bhubaneswar - Bhubaneswar Bhasani Utsav Committee at Saheed Nagar, Rajdhani Mandir Surakshya Bhasani Samiti at Nayapalli and Uttar Bhubaneswar Bhasani Committee at Chandrasekharpur.
All deities will congregate at their designated places- Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli, and the ground near the IOCL office in Chandrasekharpur and take the designated route for immersion.
For the immersion procession of Bhubaneswar Bhasani Utsav Committee at Saheed Nagar, the traffic intending to proceed towards Rupali Square from Vani Vihar side shall be diverted from Vani Vihar towards Acharya Vihar. No vehicles, of any type shall be allowed to ply on Janpath. They shall be diverted to Sachivalay Marg and other adjacent roads. This traffic regulation shall be in effect from 3 PM or starting time of the procession whichever is later to 1 AM or the ending time of the procession, whichever is earlier.
For the immersion procession of Rajdhani Mandir Surakshya Bhasani Samiti, Nayapalli, the traffic intending to proceed towards Cuttack from CRP square side shall be diverted from CRP square towards Jaydev Vihar via Ekamra Park and Biju Pattnaik College. This traffic regulation shall come into effect from 3 PM or the starting time of the procession whichever is later and shall be continued till 1 AM or till the procession passes CRP square, whichever is earlier.
The vehicular traffic on Stewart School Road, Unit-8 road, and OUAT square-New Airport road shall be diverted onto the adjacent roads.
For Uttar Bhubaneswar Vasani Committee, the traffic intending to proceed towards Nalco Square from the KIIT side shall be diverted to other adjacent roads from Nandankanan - Jayadev Vihar road. Heavy vehicles coming from the Khordha side towards Bhubaneswar shall be diverted at the starting point or the Fire Station Over Bridge towards the flyover. No vehicles shall be allowed to ply on the service road.
This became evident after a spate of loot, snatching, and pickpocketing cases came to the fore in the last couple of days, and it has become a cause of concern for devotees.
Devotees, mainly women, are now scared of wearing gold jewellery while venturing out to have darshan of the Goddess at pandals.
Niharika, a woman devotee who was a victim near Bomikhal Puja mandap yesterday, said: We reached the puja mandap at 8.15 pm on Sunday and moved out at 8.40 pm. When I checked my bag to buy something, all my valuable articles were missing from the bag. There were many valuable documents and a pen drive in the bag.”
Another woman devotee, who visited Saheed Nagar puja mandap, observed, “We now feel scared lest my jewellery and articles would be stolen or snatched when we would be busy having darshan of the Goddess amid the crowd. We heard about a loot incident yesterday at Saheed Nagar Puja pandal. Members of the Puja committee are warning people against theft and pickpocketing.”
Sachidananda Nayak, general secretary of Saheed Nagar Puja Committee, said, “On the day of Sasthi, a loot incident had taken place. We tried to trace the accused and found that some children are involved in cases of loot, pickpocketing and snatching. After such cases, we appeal to devotees to be careful and keep their articles with care.”
According to reports, over 20 loot incidents were reported from various parts of the city on Sunday alone, prompting police personnel into action mode.
Meanwhile, police have caught 26 suspected looters after checking CCTV footage at different places. Most of them reportedly are from Bihar & Jharkhand while sources said that the gang has over 100 members.
It is said that snatchers are setting their eyes on gold pieces of jewellery, money purses, smartphones, and other valuables.
ACP(Zone-4), SN Muduli, said,” At Bomikhal puja mandap, we have caught eight non-Odia people and recovered four cell phones from their pockets and two small knives. Most of them are from Bihar. They will be arrested after prima facie evidence against them.”
The Saffron party claimed that people will kill scores of ‘Mahishasuras’ in BJD and the BJP will come to power in Odisha this time. Similarly, the Congress has resolved to throw both the PM Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government here in Odisha out of power.
The ruling BJD, on the other hand, claimed that their party is in the hearts of the people and the Opposition parties' claims hold no significance.
Meanwhile, the political leaders were seen hopping several puja pandals to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga. While Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was spotted in Sambalpur, the state BJP president visited puja pandals in Cuttack.
“In our country, a new era to empower women and ensure women-led development has started through the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Pradhan.
Former Barabati-Cuttack MLA Debasish Samantaray said, “Women signify power and through puja pandals, we get this message. We also want empowerment of women."
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Sarat Pattanayak also visited puja pandals in Cuttack while Congress MLA, Tara Bahinipati sought blessings of the Goddess in Jeypore.
“I have sought blessings of the Goddess to fulfil all the desires of the people of Odisha. We also want to create a new Odisha so that its lost pride is restored. It will only happen with the blessings of the Goddess and if Congress comes to power here,” said PCC President, Sarat Pattanayak.
BJP leader, Surath Biswal said “BJD chief or the party is not in a position to take decision and action and it is reflecting on governance. People have taken a resolve to change the government. The Odia community which has taken a back seat will take centre stage in the coming days.”
Congress MLA, Suresh Routray said, “Both PM Narendra Modi and CM Naveen Patnaik-led governments are saddled with wrongdoings like Mahishasura and both governments need to be changed to restore peace. We have pledged to reach out to every household across the State by holding a massive programme on October 27.”
BJD MLA Amar Satpathy said, “We will pray to Goddess Durga as nothing happens without her blessings. As far as our state is concerned, Naveen Patnaik has taken a lot of steps to preserve our culture and heritage and ensured good governance here. There is no problem for Naveen Patnaik to come to power for the sixth term.”
Dhanuchi is a special form of dance-puja that is performed in front of the Goddess Durga to celebrate victory over evil, her valour, and her bravery.
A day ago Sushmita Sen was in the limelight for performing Dhanuchi along with her daughter Renee at a Durga puja. Yesterday in the evening Rani Mukerji and Tanisha Mukherjee also performed Dhanchi. Wearing an olive green saree Rani joined other members at the pandal.
After doing a few traditional steps, Rani started dancing in a typical Bollywood style and enjoyed it with everyone else around. A more mesmerising dance was performed by The Kapil Sharma Show fame Sumona Chakravarti who danced with Dhanuchi in her mouth which is generally the way this dance is performed in front of Goddess Durga.
Wearing a red saree, Sumona looked gorgeous and beautiful as she concentrated on performing Dhanuchi along with the other devotees. She surprised the other devotees with their grace and perfection.
Kajol gave a miss to this ritual which was quite surprising as she is a regular at the Durga puja. However, she was spotted regularly visiting the puja venue for the last couple of days along with her son Yug.
She even happily posed with Jaya Bachchan and other relatives during her visit and impressed her social media followers with her choice of sarees on various occasions.
Other celebrities like Janhvi Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, and Bipasha Basu were also spotted attending Durga Puja at different venues.
While some puja mandaps adorn Goddess Durga in silver and golden tableaux, there are some other puja committees that display impeccable communal harmony and bond by including people from other communities and religions too. And there are some others who take patriotism to a whole new level by worshipping Bharat Mata on their puja pandals.
Bakhrabad Durga puja committee in the millennium city is such a place where nationalism and patriotism has taken centre stage as the members have put ‘Bharat Mata’ on the pandal instead of Goddess Durga.
The President of the puja committee said, “Bakhrabad is a unique ‘sahi’ in Cuttack where residents are highly motivated in nationalism and patriotism. Freedom fighters and intellectuals like Ramadevi and Nabakrushna Choudhury were born here. Poet like Laxmikanta Mohapatra was also born here.”
“As per our belief, we consider our Nation as Bharat Mata. Freedom Fighter Arvind Ghose had said that India is not only land mass and rivers. Behind the existence of this Nation, there is blessing of a Mother whom he termed as Goddess Durga or Maa Bhawani. Bharat Mata is an incarnation of Goddess Durga. That is why we worship her at our pandal,” he added.
The Secretary of the puja committee said, “We try to inculcate different themes in our puja. This year we are going to include three girls who will be dressed like Goddess Durga during immersion.”
It is pertinent to mention here that irrespective of their religious beliefs, people from the minority community have been working as the office-bearers of many Durga puja committees in Cuttack.
As per reports, people from the Muslim community are now holding key posts in Jobra, Mangalabag, Tulasipur, Sutahata, Alishabazar and many other Puja committees.
Mahisasura, son of Rambha, the king of asuras and demon princess Shyamala, waged wars against devas on several times but got defeated each time. He then started invoking Lord Brahma to grant him a boon. Pleased with his austerity, Lord Brahma appeared before him and told him to ask for a boon.
Mahisasura asked for the boon of immortality which Lord Brahma turned down. As he believed that no woman could kill him, he asked for the boon of no man-god, demon or beast- could kill him. His wish was granted.
He then attacked the three worlds of earth, heaven and hell. He didn’t even spare the Indralok, the kingdom of Lord Indra. Terrified gods approached Lord Brahma, who then went to Lord Vishnu and they all sought help from Lord Shiva.
Then, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva combined their powers and a new entity took shape. She was Goddess Durga, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The ten-armed goddess received weapons from all gods and her vehicle-lion from the lord of the mountains.
Thereafter, a fifteen-day-long battle between Mahisasuar and Goddess Durga ensued.
At the juncture of the ninth and tenth days (‘sandhi’ of Navami and Dashami tithis), Goddess Durga transitioned into her warrior form and killed the buffalo demon on Dashami tithi, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
This is why, Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Mahisasuramardini on Maha Navami.
All will feel that the pandal is a copy and paste of the film in all aspects- make-up, costume, design, and ambiance. The pandal is one of the major draws in the City of Joy and devotees got new experience.
A devotee said, “The type of vibes the pandal emits is not found at other places. I think doing this is really a phenomenon.”
The breathtakingly decorated pandal and the gates are reportedly mesmerizing the devotees who visit the place in large numbers.
“Many pandals have been different from each other with their distinctive creativity. Innovative ideas have been made use of for decorations,” said a woman devotee who was excited seeing such innovative pandals.
An elderly devotee along with his wife narrated his experience of visiting various pandals. “Many of puja pandals in Kolkata we have seen are really innovative because of their unique themes used in pandal decorations,” he added.
The South Indian film, Kantara, is centered on Lord Bishnu who has assumed the form of a boar in the film. One can’t imagine that the pandal will be so beautifully decorated to give a feel of watching the film, though not fully, during the visit.
The pandal emits a feel of a natural ambiance and rich ethnicity – tribal culture and their life because parts of the pandal have been decorated with bushes of sugarcane, green plantains, their plants, palm leaves, and coconut leaves – as if one can have a feel on being the lap of nature – the dwelling place of tribals.
Another attractive puja pandal has been built in the Chorabagan area whose theme is quite different--life experience. The puja pandal is decorated with glass balls (symbolizing raindrops that have been struggling for survival), moving upward and downward.
The theme gives a message that all elements of Nature teach the art of survival. Upward movements of balls are indicative of struggle and dedication to stay alive. At one place, devotees are thrilled to see the blooming of 108 lotuses, which are symbolic of the good times to extricate oneself from testing times.
Reported by Prasannajit Ray, OTV
On the occasion of Dusshera festival, in most parts of the country, the effigy of Ravana is burnt. But then again, the ten-headed demon king is worshipped in some other parts.
On Dusshera, the people of Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh turn off the lights of their houses. Instead of celebrating, the people here mourn the death of Ravana. It is believed that Mandsaur was the birthplace of Ravana's wife Mandodari.
To date, people here worship him as their son-in-law. There is a huge statue of Ravan here and people worship him as a wise person, second to none and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.
The residents of Bisrakh, a village in Goutam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, don’t celebrate Dusshera. While Ravana’s effigies are burnt across the nation on Dusshera, here, people worship him.
According to many beliefs, Bisrakh is considered to be the birthplace of Ravana. And the people here claim that Ravana is their ancestor. They also consider him as a great Brahmin. So instead of burning the effigies of Ravana, here, they spend the day mourning and praying for his soul. People here consider Ravana as a great Brahmin and worship him. Here, people perform yajnas to pay tribute to Ravana.
Baijnath is a small town in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The town gets its name after an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (Baijnath temple). While Ravana’s effigy is burnt across the country, this town is an exception.
There is a legend behind it.
To attain invincible powers, Ravana worshipped Lord Shiva in the Kailash. To appease Lord Shiva, he offered all his ten heads in the yajna kund. At this Lord Shiva blessed with the boons of immortality and invincibility. A delighted Ravan requested Lord Shiva to come with him to Lanka. Lord Shiva agreed but on the condition that he (Ravana) wouldn’t put his shiva linga on the ground or else he would settle there forever.
On the way to Sri Lanka, Ravana felt thirsty at Baijnath. He saw a shepherd whom he requested to give him water. It was none but Lord Ganesh who was there in the guise of a shepherd. He quenched the thirst of Ravana. Soon, Ravana felt the urge to attend nature’s call. He requested the shepherd to hold the shiva linga for some time so that he could attend nature’s call. The shepherd agreed but he kept the shivalinga on the ground.
As Lord Shiva had told Ravana, the former settled there. The spot was today’s Baijnath.
People across the nation-minus some places- regard Ravana as the antagonist of the Hindu epic the Ramayan. But in Mandore, a small town in Jodhpur, the picture is different. Here, people worship the demon king not on Dussehra but every day. Like gods and goddesses, here is a dedicated temple for the ten-headed king. A cult of Brahmins who worship Ravana believe they are the descendant of him. They regard him as the most powerful man of all time.
It is also believed that Mandore is the birthplace of Ravana’s wife Mandodari. This is why most Brahmin families treat Ravana as their son-in-law. And, this is why Ravan’s effigy is not burnt here.
The people in Karnataka's Kolar district worship Lord Shiva on Dusshera. Since the king of Lanka is considered one of the greatest devotees of Lord Shiva, people here also worship him. This is why they instead of burning his effigy on Dusshera, as is practiced across the nation, celebrate Lankeswar Mahotsav.
On this day, a huge idol of Ravana is taken out in a procession. Here, there is also a temple where the idol of Ravana is worshipped all throughout the year.
On Dusshera, unlike many other parts of the country, the residents of a nondescript village in Maharashtra’s Akola district don’t burn an effigy of ten-headed demon king Ravan. Rather they worship him on this day.
A common belief amongst the villagers makes them do so. They believe if they are living peacefully, it is due to the blessings of Ravan. In fact, it is a 300 years old tradition.
There is a tall black statue of Ravan in the middle of the village. While people worship the statue every day, on Dusshera, they perform a ‘maha aarati’ of the Lanka king.
As per reports, the miscreants targeted the women devotees and snatched their gold chains weighing around 10 grams each in just 15 minutes.
The victims have lodged separate complaints in this regard at the nearest police station. Subsequently, police have started an investigation into the incident based on CCTV footage.
Police are suspecting that one women lootera gang might have targeted the women devotees at the mandap. Video footage of the CCTV cameras installed near the mandap is being examined to identify the miscreants and other clues.
Local residents have alleged that these kinds of incidents are happening as the women police officials deployed by Commissionerate Police at the mandaps are allegedly remaining absent from duty.
“I entered the Bomikhal puja mandap at around 10.15 am. However, I found to my utter dismay that my gold chain was missing just after 15 minutes. I have no clue how it was snatched,” said Lili Das, one of the victims.
“We have installed as many as 12 CCTV cameras near the puja mandap for surveillance. The women police personnel deployed by the Commissionerate Police have not yet reached our mandap. Due to the negligence, such kinds of incidents occurred. Repeatedly, we have made the devotees aware of the lady lootera gang and urged them to be careful. However, they are not paying any attention to our requests. What we could do under this kind of circumstances,” rued Bomikhal Puja Committee Secretary, Ajay Pradhan.
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.
“Maha Saptami’ puja was performed with all the traditional rituals at several mandaps of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. The mandaps were vibrant with the chant of mantras. Durga Puja celebrations gathered steam today with people dressed in colourful clothes thronging the pandals to get a glimpse of the Goddess.
Early start of Maha Saptami rituals
In the Millenium City, rituals of Maha Saptami started early in the morning. The Goddess was offered a bath in the morning with holy water brought from different rivers in the State. Following the holy ritual, ‘Marjana’, ‘Naba Patrika’, ‘Chakhyudana’ and ‘Prana Pratishta’ rituals of the Goddess was performed. Subsequently, ‘Chandipatha’ was performed. Hundreds of devotees made a beeline to have the darshan of Goddess Durga on the special occasion.
“The first ritual of Maha Saptami is Chakhyudana. Subsequently, Goddess Durga is worshipped in ‘Sodasha Upachara’. Maha Snana is the main part of 'Sodasha Upachara’. With 64 kinds of herbs and water, Goddess Durga takes a bath,” said the priest of Haripur Dolamundai Puja mandap in Cuttack.
“The weight of the silver used in the medha of our puja mandap is 3.5 quintals. Goddess Durga and other Gods and Goddess in our mandap have been adorned with 7.5 kg of gold ornaments,” said Sheikh Bazar puja committee Secretary, Kishore Behera.
Footfalls rise in Bhubaneswar pandals
Maha Saptami puja of the Goddess was also performed with all the traditional rituals and religious fervor in Bhubaneswar. As the weather was pleasant, a large number of devotees thronged the puja mandaps to participate in the puja revelry.
Almost all puja pandals in the city witnessed huge crowd. Special lighting arrangements, modern technology-based illumination and impressive theme-based gates created a surreal atmosphere in the city. Puja revellers soaked in the festive mood and all the food stalls and meena bazars were chock-a-block.
Like the gold and silver medhas in Cuttack, various mandaps in Bhubaneswar have experimented with impressive gates. Attractive gates of Rasulgarh, Jharpada, Bomikhal, Station Bazar, Saheed Nagar and Nayapalli puja mandaps are the major crowd-pullers.
Security arrangements in place
Considering the huge rush, some leading mandaps in Bhubaneswar have made their own special security arrangements. To avoid theft, snatching and other law and order situations, the entry, exit and parking places of the mandaps have been kept under CCTV camera surveillance. In some of the mandaps, women volunteers have been deployed to help women devotees have smooth darshan of the Goddess.
“Maa Durga descends on the earth once a year. We all are enjoying the puja. Let the Goddess bless everyone,” said Karubaki Jena, a resident of Bhubaneswar.
“Keeping the mandaps under CCTV surveillance is a very good step for the safety and security of the devotees. Deploying women volunteers will also go a long way in helping the women devotees,” she added.
“We have installed as many as 26 CCTV cameras near our mandap. Around 30 women volunteers have been deployed under ‘Maa Bahini’ for the first time to provide safety and security to the women devotees at the mandap,” said Chitrasen Behera, Secretary of Nayapalli puja mandap.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Prateek Singh has shared special tips for people on how to be careful while being part of the puja revelry.
“If you are visiting any nearby puja mandaps, use either public transport or two-wheelers. Park your vehicles at the right place and use double locks in your two-wheelers. Don’t leave any valuable stuff inside your vehicle,” said Singh.
While the rituals may differ from one state to the other, the importance of these days and celebrations is the same everywhere.
Navratri is celebrated in the Ashwin Shukla Paksha and on its 7th day Maha Saptami is celebrated. While during the initial days of Navratri several rituals and aarti’s are performed the Maha Puja or the mega celebrations start from Saptami onwards because on this day the battle between Goddess Durga and the Rakshasa King Mahishasura started.
This day is an indication of good fighting evil and how Prakruti or female power can demolish the negativity of evilness when the situation arises.
Apart from its significance to Navratri and the fight of Durga with Mahishasura, Maha Saptami has also a legend that surrounds Lord Rama.
The legend says that Lord Rama offered his prayers to Goddess Durga before his battle started with the demon king Ravan. The demon king had kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife Sita and hence for him winning this battle was very important.
The legend says that the special puja that Rama started required 100 Neel kamal or blue lotus flowers. However, he could only get 99 such flowers.
Since Rama wanted to complete the ritual he plucked out his own eye which was blue in colour and offered it in place of the Neel kamal which was missing.
The Goddess Durga was so pleased that she not only returned that eye back to Lord Rama but also offered him a lot of blessings helping him emerge a winner against Ravana.
There are many more legends and tales associated with Maha Saptami and each state has its own lores and reasons for celebrating the day and Navratri festival.
However, such a statement of the ACP has elicited mixed reactions as already there is an extra burden on the Commissionerate Police while other special measures like motorbike patrolling and beat patrolling have failed in the past. It is also unclear whether the Twin City Police Commissioner and other senior officials have given approval for such a provision in the Smart City.
Earlier, the concerned Zone 2 ACP had said, “We urge people to ensure that their houses are properly locked. People should also inform their neighbours as well. People also should make a call to the local police station if they are likely to stay outside for a long period during the festive season,” said the ACP.
According to the ACP, if the local police station has the aforesaid information then they can intensify PCR movement near the concerned residential areas.
The statements of the ACP have also sparked a debate on how far it is practically feasible to keep a vigil on individual houses in Bhubaneswar which has a vast and floating population. Besides, already there is a huge staff crunch in the police department.
Moreover, the focus of police will be on crowd control, traffic management, crime control, and law and order during the Durga Puja festivities.
Questions are also being raised over such statements as Commissionerate Police so far has failed to nab the burglars who had looted valuables in a series of loots from several flats of an apartment in Bhubaneswar recently.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cyclonic circulation lies over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Andaman Sea and it is likely to move west-northwestwards. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over Central parts of the Bay of Bengal around October 20.
As per the forecast, rain may start from the ‘Shashthi’ of the puja itself. However, no predictions have been released about the parts of the state that may receive rainfall on ‘Navami’ and ‘Dashami’.
“A cyclonic circulation over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Sea is likely to move west-northwest-wards. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form around October 20 or 21. But it is too early to say which part of the state will be affected,” said Umashankar Das, a scientist at the Bhubaneswar Regional Centre of the IMD.
On the other hand, weather scientist Sarat Chandra Sahu said coastal and south Odisha may witness rainfall activities first, and subsequently the quantum of rain may increase in coastal and northern districts.
“The picture will be clearer on October 21-22. However, initial calculations say Odisha may witness rain from October 23rd till 26th or 27th. The indications show the predicted low-pressure area is likely to intensify into a depression. But it is difficult to say whether it will intensify or not,” said Sahu.
The predictions of the weather department have left the puja organisers in a state of worry. October being a month of cyclones for Odisha, last year too, rain accompanied by wind pulled down some pandals, and some others remained inundated. Keeping this in mind, the organisers have started taking measures.
“The structure we are erecting will withstand a wind speed of 70 to 80 kmph. If it exceeds, there may be some damages. But, all of us have the blessings of Maa (Goddess Durga), so nothing of that sort will happen,” said the secretary of the Sahid Nagar Durga Puja Committee, Sachhidananda Nayak.
Echoing the same, Phiringi Bazaar Puja Committee’s secretary Naresh Sahu said, “We have become accustomed to rains during puja time. We have taken measures accordingly. But, if rain persists, footfalls and the immersion ceremony may get affected.”
The Muslim devotee, Sk Liaquddin Ahmed voluntarily came forwarded and paid Rs 50,000 so that the Goddess Durga is adorned with the gold ornaments during the upcoming puja.
“Sutahat is a small part of the city and we do not have enough income sources due to lack of market. We observe Durga puja by collecting money from the residents. For development works of the Committee, we had taken some loans by giving gold ornaments. A meeting was held and we felt that ornaments were required. Hence, I decided to give the money and bring back the ornaments,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed further said he has been associated with the Sutahat Puja Committee for the last 20-25 years. “Cuttack is known for its universal brotherhood. I am happy that I was able to contribute in whatever means for the puja,” he added.
Another member of the committee said, “The discussion was limited to the committee members and it was then Sk Liaquddin Ahmed came forward. It shows his love for Goddess Durga.”
The ten arms of Maa Durga symbolise the protection of the devotees. Celebrity Astrologer, Parduman Suri, shared the importance of the ten weapons held in the 10 arms of Maa Durga.
Trishul: Trishul was gifted to Goddess Durga by Lord Mahadev. This trident has three sharp edges, which symbolize the three qualities of Tamas, Rajas, and Satva.
Sword: This weapon was given by Lord Ganesha. It is a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. The sword represents the sharpness of the intellect while its shine represents knowledge.
Spear: It is a symbol of auspiciousness, which is gifted to the mother by Lord Agni. It also represents fierce power. It knows the difference between what is wrong and what is right and acts accordingly.
Vajra: Vajra was gifted by Indradev. It is a symbol of strength of soul and strong willpower. Goddess Durga empowers her devotee with indomitable confidence and willpower.
Axe: Maa Durga has received an ax and armor from Lord Vishwakarma. It symbolizes fighting evil and not being afraid of any consequences.
Sudarshan Chakra: Sudarshan Chakra, given by Lord Krishna, is also an infallible weapon of the mother. It symbolizes that the world is controlled by the Mother Goddess and the universe also revolves around her who is the center of creation.
Bow and Arrow: Bow and arrow are given by the Wind God and Sun God, which are considered symbols of energy. The bow represents potential energy, while the arrow represents kinetic energy. It also symbolizes that Goddess Durga is controlling all the sources of energy in the universe.
Mace: Mace is a symbol of knowledge and religion. Mace protects the truth.
Dagger: It represents positive power. Mother's dagger provides support in the struggle against enemies.
Conch: It is a symbol of sound. The conch shell of Maa Durga represents universality and prosperity.
The auspicious occasion of Mahalaya marks the end of the Pitru Paksha, otherwise known as Shradh. Those who couldn’t offer ‘pinda' to their forefathers during the 16 days of the Pitru Paksha, are doing the same today.
As per the tradition, on Mahalaya, ‘pinda daan’ is also offered to three generations of maternal uncle. It is believed that our forefathers attain moksha, if ‘pinda daan’ is offered to them.
The importance of the day lies in the fact that we show our respect to the forefathers even after their deaths.
At the same time, Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha, the beginning of Durga Puja celebrations.
“On the occasion of Mahalaya, a person offers ‘pinda’ to his forefathers and the departed souls of his maternal grandfather and others,” observed a priest.
A devotees said, “There are many rituals in the Hindu religion and all the rituals are more or less connected to science. We are here for the first time to offer ‘pinda’ to the departed souls of my uncle’s family. It gives me immense peace of mind.”
On this occasion of Mahalaya, hundreds of devotees are thronging Samaleswari temple in Sambalpur to witness goddess Samaleswari’s Dhabalamukhi Besha.
While the goddess remains dressed in red costumes all round the year, on Mahalaya day she adorns white costume. A fresh coat of traditionally prepared white paint is applied to the deity. The deity remains in Dhabalamukhi Besha for two and a half days. During this period, the priests too wear white costume while worshipping the deity.
The darshan of Dhabalamukhi Besha is also known as ‘Ganga Darshan'. It is believed that the darshan of the goddess’ Dhabalamukhi Besha gives the same benefits that one gets from taking a holy dip in the Ganga.
On the occasion of this special ritual, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb welcomed 21 Srotriya Brahmins from 16 ‘sashanas’, or villages inhabited by Brahmins in the palace. One among them is a priest from Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar.
As per the tradition, Gajapati Maharaja entrusts these Brahmins to perform the Sodasha Upachar Puja of Devi Bimala inside the shrine.
Biswanath Mishra, working president of Mukti Mandap in Puri said, “If the goddess is worshipped as per the tradition, it would be good for the entire world and all the threats can be avoided. So the ‘Shodasha Upachara Puja’ is performed with ‘Chandi Patha’ at Bimala peeth.”
“We hope we could appease the goddess and consequently there would be no threats of natural calamities, or famine to the world and there would be prosperity everywhere,” he added.
While Cuttack is famous for ‘Chandi Medha (silver tableau)’, Rausapatna Puja Committee is going to adorn its Durga Puja pandal this year with an attractive ‘Glass Medha’ for the first time. It will be one of the major attractions of Cuttack Durga Puja this year.
As per reports, Rausapatna Puja committee’s ‘Glass Medha’ in this year’s Durga Puja will be the first ‘Glass Medha’ in Odisha. The preparations of the special medha have been going on by the artisans for the last four months. Like other materials, intricate designing is being made with glass pieces and those are used in the special medha.
As per Rausapatna Puja Committee members, a total of 300 kg glasses will be used in preparing the special medha which will be of 14 ft width and 10 ft height.
“I have been doing glass work for the last 20-25 years. Earlier, I had prepared a small glass medha of Lord Ganesh. It was so attractive and several people had appreciated it. Members of Rausapatna Puja Committee requested me to prepare a medha of Goddess Durga with glass. It’s a pretty arduous and time-consuming task. With Goddess Durga’s blessings and help from the committee members, the work is going on smoothly,” said chief artisan Prahallad Sen.
“Youths of our area decided to do something different and with cooperation from all, the glass medha concept was visualised. It will be the first of its kind in Odisha,” said Jyotishandra Das, Secretary of Rausapatna Puja Committee.
The committee will celebrate its 127th Durga Puja this year. To make it a grand occasion, the youths of the area are extending their full cooperation and giving their time in the preparation.
“Glass Medha is a novel initiative. The artisans are from our locality. They are working day and night to prepare the medha. The senior members of our committee are inspiring them,” said Pratap Das, a senior member of Rausapatna Puja Committee.
‘Chandi Medhas’-the traditional silver filigree decorations in the pandals during the pujas in Cuttack are the major attraction. Devotees across the State rush to the city to witness the famous Dussehra, soak in the festive spirit and offer their devotion to the Goddess.
Considering the massive fervor among the devotees, most of the puja committees in Cuttack are preparing ‘Chandi Medhas’ this year. Silversmiths in the city are busy fulfilling orders to make decorative filigree items that will adore the Durga Puja pandals.
With the puja celebration just one and a half months away, the Silversmiths are now focusing on cleaning the silver. They have been engrossed in their work day and night.
Silver cleaning work is in full swing at Khapuria Industrial Puja Committee in Khannagar and Ranihat Puja Committee. Mainly the artisans of Mansinghpatna are skillful in this trade.
“We clean the silver by using an acid. Four to five silversmiths will work around fifteen days to clean the silver for a ‘Chandi Medha’,” said Sushant Mohapatra, a silversmith.
“Preparation has already started for Dussehra this year. Artisans have been cleaning silver for our ‘Chandi Medha’ for the last four to five days,” said Rajendra Kumar Sahu, Secretary of Ranihat Puja Committee.
Goddess Durga will be worshipped around 160 mandaps in Cuttack this year. While the city had witnessed 27 ‘Chandi Medhas’ last year, this year there will be an addition of three more ‘Chandi Medhas’.
“So far we have the information that three more ‘Chandi Medhas’ will be added in Cuttack this year. Durga Puja will be definitely more attractive this year,” said Debendra Nath Sahu, President of Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee.
This year, Sharadiya Durga Puja will be celebrated from October 20 (Friday) to October 24 (Tuesday). A preparatory meeting was held in this regard by the Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee (peace committee) today.
In Cuttack, Durga Puja will be held in 29 ‘Chandi Medha’ puja pandals including two new ‘Chandi Medha’ pandals. The immersion programme will be held on October 25 (Wednesday).
During the meeting, the peace committee proposed to ban alcohol and DJ music in the immersion ceremony. Moreover, the committee demanded relaxation in helmet checking rules and permission for conducting melody and using loudspeakers till 12 am.
“The awful impacts of DJ and alcohol are well known to everyone. This could be a new beginning and everyone should follow the same. Everybody doesn’t consume alcohol. There are some people with such habits and with repeated requests, the graph has come down now,” said Debendra Sahu, president of Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee.
Meanwhile, Twin City Police Commissioner, Soumendra Priyadarshi asserted that a Single-Window Operation will be set up for devotees so that they can conduct puja without any hassle. On the other hand, CMC Mayor Subhash Singh assured that before Dussehra, all roads in the city would be repaired.
“We will certainly look into permitting loudspeakers till 12 am. Steps will also be taken to set up Single-Window Clearance, which is basically for permission. The immersion procession will be smoothly conducted if it goes alcohol-free. The proposal is certainly commendable and welcoming,” said Priyadarshi.
With Dussehra and Ravana Podi bringing a fiery end to the festivities, preparations for the famous immersion ceremony have reached the final stage in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. As Covid-19 restrictions are no longer in force, various puja committees have made massive arrangements for a grand immersion ceremony and left no stones unturned in their preparations.
As many as four artificial immersion ponds have been dug up on the banks of the Kuakhai and Daya rivers to facilitate the immersion of the Durga idols in Bhubaneswar. Since the sizes of the idols are bigger compared to last year's when the festival was a muted affair amid Covid-19 restrictions, bigger ponds have been dug up to accommodate the idols.
As per Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) sources, as many as 17 platoons of police force have been deployed to maintain law and order during the immersion ceremony in the Capital City. Special route charts have been allotted to three ‘Bhasana’ committees to carry idols from the pandals to the makeshift ponds in a staggered manner during the procession. Elaborate arrangements have been made for proper traffic management during the ‘Bhasana Utsav. Three Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police (ADCPs) would supervise the arrangements. Commissinerate police have issued strict orders for the puja committees to keep the level of DJ sound within 65 decibels.
Meanwhile, as many as three artificial immersion ponds have been kept ready for the immersion of the Durga idols in the Millennium city of Cuttack. A total of 55 platoons of police force will be deployed in the city and immersion site to control overcrowding, mishaps and untoward incidents. Around 300 CCTV cameras have also been installed at various places in the city to keep a watch on the situation. A total of 172 idols will be immersed in Devi Gada.
The said Durga Puja had triggered a controversy as the Mahishasura idol there resembled Mahatma Gandhi, with shaved head and a spectacle.
Goswami claimed that on Wednesday afternoon, three persons entered the pandal and started clicking pictures.
"Besides clicking pictures of the idol, they were also taking photographs of the surroundings inside the pandal. I became curious and asked them about the subject about their pictures. In reply, they physically assaulted me and left the scene. One of them even claimed to be a central government official. I have lodged a complaint with the local police station. I expect the police to take immediate action," Goswami told mediapersons.
Last Saturday, the local people had noticed that the idol of Mahishasura in the pandal resembled Mahatma Gandhi. Following wide-spread criticism and police intervention, the idol was given a different look with the spectacle removed and a wig put on the head of Mahishasura.
On Tuesday, state Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had told mediapersons that the party would move the court against the organisers of the said Puja. He also held the Trinamool Congress-led state government directly responsible for the incident.
"We will be moving the court against this incident. The state government is equally responsible for this unfortunate event. Even in BJP-ruled states, no one has the guts to insult the father of the nation in this manner. The entire world follows Mahatma Gandhi's principles. We cannot tolerate his insult in West Bengal," Chowdhury said.
All major cities in Odisha have turned bright and colourful. Shopping malls, sweet shops, gift corners and other business outlets are witnessing heavy footfalls of customers.
Needless to say, Millennium city Cuttack which is synonymous with Durga Puja is making all efforts to make the festival grand. The puja in the city is famous for umpteen reasons, as decorations range from gold and silver filigree backdrops to sky-kissing theme-based gates.
However, one lesser known fact, which has been a part of the century-old tradition associated with Durga Puja, is the use of flags during the immersion ceremony.
The flags used during puja and immersion ceremony help the crowd identify idols of different Puja committees.
Different puja committees take out flags of different colours, symbols with special mentions on it helping people identify the idols.
"Apart from banners, puja committees in Cuttack carry giant flags with special symbols and pictures of Goddess Durga which make it easier for people to identify the idols of puja committees," said Debendra Nath Sahoo, Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee president.
While preparations have reached crescendo at most of the pandals in the State, artisans in the Millennium City of Cuttack are working round the clock to meet the deadline. But unfortunately, the contribution of these artisans, who play a major role in making the puja a huge success, has allegedly remained unrecognized so far.
A tailor family in Cuttack's Darji Sahi has been providing flags of all sizes to various puja pandals for over several decades. These flags are used during Dussehra and immersion procession.
"Earlier, my grandfather used to stitch flags for the puja which subsequently my father followed. My father and I used to make flags but after his death due to Covid-19, I have taken up the responsibility of making flags," said Santosh Kumar Moharana.
“In the aftermath of Covid-19, Odisha witnessed low-key Durga Puja celebrations for two consecutive years. But this year, I received a good order and my entire family is busy making the flags before the deadline," Moharana added.
"I received orders from around 10 puja committees and I need to deliver around 200 flags. With very less time left for puja and immersion ceremony, I along with my family members have been working round the clock to ensure timely delivery," he stated.
According to Hindu mythology tales prevalent among Bengalis, Goddess Durga along with Lord Ganesh, Kartikeya, Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati come down to the Earth once a year for five days to bless her devotees. And, Devi Durga’s return to the Earth also commemorates a married daughter's return to her parent's house or ‘maika’.
The five-day annual festival honours Goddess Durga and celebrates her victory over the demon king Mahishasura - which is why the Goddess is also known as ‘Mahisha Mardini’.
It is believed that on the last day of Durga Puja, when Goddess Durga prepares to leave her mother's house and return to Mount Kailash where Lord Shiva resides, a few rites are performed to say the Deity goodbye. ‘Sindur Khela’ is one such tradition that is performed before the Goddess embarks on her trip.
‘Sindur-Khela’ or ‘Sindur Utsav’ literally means 'vermillion game'. It is regarded as one of the most significant ritual observed on the day of Vijayadashami which falls on tenth day (Dashami Tithi) of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwina. Though, this ritual holds great significance for Bengalis, it is also celebrated with equal pomp in other states like Odisha, Tripura, Assam and Jharkhand.
On this day, married Bengali women first perform ‘Devi Baran’ or ‘Thakur Boron’, where they bid farewell to the goddess and emotionally part ways with Maa Durga. After that, they offer sweets and apply sindur on the forehead and feet of the Goddess. Once ‘Thakur Boron’ is done, the married women apply sindur on each other's forehead and face followed by their bangles - shankha, pola and noa (bangles made of conch shells, coral and iron, respectively).
The married women celebrate ‘Sindur Khela’ as they believe it symbolises the power of womanhood that will bring good fortune for them and long life for their husbands.
The exact origin of the festival is unknown. But, according to folklore, this tradition began around 200 years ago in the Durga Pujas of the zamindar houses. People believe that if a woman plays ‘Sindur Khela’ by following the proper custom, she will never be widowed. It also represents womanhood's strength in defending her family from any harm. This tradition apparently helps to resolve family disputes and conflicts amongst neighbours.
Though ‘Sindur Khela’ is being celebrated in West Bengal, it is also celebrated with equal pomp in several districts across Odisha. On the occasion of Bijoya Dashami or Vijayadashami, Bengali communities across Odisha bid Goddess Durga adieu by playing ‘Sindur Khela’.
There are lakhs of Bengali-speaking people residing in Malkangiri, Umerkote, Nabarangpur, Balasore, Jaleswar, Twin city Bhubaneswar-Cuttack and other districts.
Speaking to OTV, Sangita Sarkar, a Bengali speaking woman from Malkangiri, elaborates how they celebrate Durga puja (from Sasthi to Viajyadashami) in their town and how they observe ‘sindur khela’ to bid Maa Durga adieu.
“We wait the whole year for this festival. Here in Malkangiri, people get vibes like West Bengal as Bengali population is high here in comparison to Odia population. Every year, on Viajayadashami, we put sindur (vermillion) on Goddess Durga’s feet and forehead, seeking blessing from her for good luck and prosperity for us.”
On asking if Odias participate in ‘sindur khela’ or not, she said, ‘normally, Bengalis only participate in the vermillion game.” Giving an example she said, “At a puja pandal in MV-79, Bengali priest performs puja, so there, people observe ‘sindur khela’ on Dashami, but, at a puja pandal in Kalimela town Odia priests perform puja, so we never saw them doing the vermillion game.”
On the other hand, Jyotiprava Behera, an Odia woman from Balasore said that joining hands with the Bengali women they do also participate in the playful ritual every year.
“As we live in the district near to West Bengal, we have adopted their traditional way of biding adieu to Maa Durga by performing the ‘Sindoor Khela’. After offering sweets and vermillion to the Goddess at Suelpur Durga Mandap, we put sindur on the faces of Bengali women and in return they also do the same. And, not only Bengalis or Odias, here Bihari people also celebrate with us.”
Under the influence of a low pressure area formed over Bay of Bengal, heavy rainfall occurred in many places of Odisha.
Due to continuous downpour, the puja pandals, there were expecting heavy crowds, witnessed a poor footfall on Navami. People preferred to remain indoors for the heavy rain.
There were also reports that rainfall affected puja pandals at Dhamana square in Bhubaneswar, Athagarh in Cuttack district and Vyasanagar in Jajpur district.
However, people started visiting the puja pandals in Bhubaneswar city in the late evening when the rain stopped.
"If the rain could have spared the puja, we would have been able to enjoy the festival, which is being celebrated after a gap of two years," said Nalini Sahoo, a devotee.
Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited puja pandals at Saheed Nagar, Baramunda and Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar city and offered prayers to Maa Durga.
As per IMD's bulletin, heavy rainfall of 7 to 11 cm is likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Puri Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak on Wednesday.
On Maha Navmi, a ritual is performed in almost every house of Odisha where they worship young virgin girls aged 1-10 years. These young girls are believed to be incarnations of Maa Durga. Nine young girls are worshipped and treated as devis considering them the nine incarnations of the Goddess Durga during those auspicious nine days of Navratris.
The ritual is called ‘Kumari Pujan’ because only young girls who have not hit puberty are worshipped. These girls are considered to be the purest and most vulnerable creations of God. They are prayed for the innocence and purity they bring to the family. Once a girl hits puberty, she refrains from this ritual. These girls are called kanyas and are considered to be very auspicious.
The ritual starts from washing the feet of the girls to feeding them special dishes like Puri and Kheer and are offered ‘chunnis’ and ‘money’ as gifts. The member of the family who performs this ritual seeks blessings from the girls by touching their feet. The girls who are believed to be incarnations of the Goddess bless the house with happiness and prosperity.
This ritual is meant to be very auspicious and is also celebrated in other North Indian states like Bihar, U.P, Bengal, and Punjab apart from Odisha.
On Monday, they received information that their 73-year-old patriarch, missing for over 15 years now and presumed dead, had been found near Kolkata, nearly 1,200 km away.
Dipankar Chatterjee, a retired Indian Air Force personnel, was out for a morning walk along with friends at Ashoknagar in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal (about 46 km from Kolkata), when they found an elderly man picking up scraps to eat from a rubbish heap. Chatterjee approached the man and wanted to know his name and where he lived.
"The man snarled back at Chatterjee. The friends then realised that he was suffering from some sort of mental ailment. After some cajoling, the man accompanied them to their clubhouse where he was given food, water and fresh clothes to wear. The group then got in touch with us. They were aware that the West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC) helps reunite such people with their families," said Ambarish Nag Biswas, secretary, WBRC.
WBRC is an organisation of amateur radio enthusiasts with a wide network across India and other countries. Over the last several years, they have used this network to locate families of people found on the streets with mental problems. After ascertaining from his language that the man was from Maharashtra, members activated their contacts in that state. It didn't take too long for them to trace his family in Bhendala.
"The police there confirmed that Baburao Bapuji Satpute was a state government employee. Several years ago, he began suffering from a mental disorder and left home. A police complaint was registered but all efforts to trace him were futile. Finally, Baburao was presumed dead. His wife started receiving pension and son got a job on compassionate grounds. They were overjoyed when they received the news on Monday. The family immediately sent his identity details. They will arrive soon to take him back after clearing all legal formalities," Nag Biswas added.
He said that WBRC is ready to provide free assistance to people in need. The organisation just needs to be contacted whenever such people are found on the streets in or around Kolkata.
Despite incessant rainfall triggered by a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal, the puja organisors ensured that the traditional rituals at pandals are conducted as per the vidhi and auspicious muhurat today.
Braving the rain, devotees in large numbers turned up at the puja pandals in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to offer prayers and seek blessings of the Goddess. Though the Maha Navami is being celebrated at puja mandaps, Dashami is being observed at the Shakti peethas.
The Commissionerate Police has made adequate arrangements to maintain law and order and security during the Durga Puja celebrations in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
“Goddess Durga never leaves us and we get special feel of the deity during the Navratri. We observed the early morning rituals as per tradition and it is the last day of the 16-day special puja here,” said a priest of Jhanjiri Mangala temple in Cuttack.
Elaborate arrangements were made at Haripur-Dolmundai puja committee for Kanya puja or kumara puja today. The kanya puja is a ritual carried out especially on the Ashtami and Navami of the Navaratri festival. It primarily involves the worship of nine girls, representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
The IMD has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in several parts of the state under the influence of low pressure area in the next couple of days. The rainfall activities since early morning has dampened the puja festivities to some extent in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Apart from twin cities, Brahma Kumaris arranged a live show of the nine forms of Durga for the first time at Rourkela civil township. The organisers put ladies on pandals in place of idols and worshipped them as per the rituals.
Similar programme was also organised in Balasore which was appreciated by the devotees. The organisors claimed that the initiative was undertaken to promote peace and harmony.
(Reported by Debasish Mohanty from Cuttack, Ranjit Pakala from Balasore and Pawan Tiwari from Rourkela)
Similarly, every non-Bengali wants to experience it, at least. When it comes to Bengalis living in Bhubaneswar and its nearby areas, they too celebrate the festival with equal fervour, staying rooted to their tradition.
They all assemble at once place and offer puja to Devi Durga.
Kali Bari in Ashok Nagar is the place where they worship the goddess. Kali Bari literally means Goddess Kali’s abode or house. In the name of Kali Bari Samiti, there are committees across the nation, associated with Bengalis.
Way back in 1965, some 15 to 20 like-minded Bangalis joined hands to celebrate Durga puja in Ashok Nagar area. 25 years later, a Kali temple came up in the same locality and the place has since been known as Kali Bari. In the initial stage, the budget was something around Rs 1000.
As of now, while around 4000 Bengalis gather at Kali Bari to celebrate the puja, the puja budget has also gone up.
President of Kali Bari Puja Samiti, Sudhanshu Marik describes how their puja pandal stands out from the rest. “We share the puja budget. While someone bears the cost of idol making, someone takes charge of prasad and someone else takes the onus of procession. I want to mention about the participation of Mukund Mohan Maiti. He is such a member who has been bearing the cost of pandal for last 30 years. An artisan from Kolkata makes our idol,” says Marik.
The claim of fame of Kali Bari Puja Samiti is following rituals in their true sense.
“We have never been in the race of best pandals, setting up sky-kissing ones resembling foreign and domestic palaces and historical places. We have always been giving importance to strict observance of rituals,” Marik adds.
“We observe all the rituals as per our tradition. The most unique tradition our women observe on Dashami tithi is ‘Sindoor Baran Utsav’,” he adds.
Describing what the ‘Sindoor Baran Utsav’ is, Rupa Marik and Alo Dey say, “We assume goddess Durga as our daughter who visits us for five days. On Dashami, we bid her farewell as we do to our daughter to her in-law’s house.”
“Adorned in traditional new attire, we stand in a queue at the pandal, waiting for our turns. We carry sindoor and sweets with us. When one’s turn comes, she goes onto the pandal, offers sweets to the goddess and applies sindoor on her forehead. After coming down from the pandal, she applies the same sindoor on her forehead, seeking the blessings of the goddess for the well beings of her family and the longevity of her husband. Later, all the women apply the same sindoor to one another. Finally, we bid a teary farewell to goddess Durga,” they added.
A section of the opposition parties as well as the social media created a major hue and cry over the issue. The police intervened and late on Sunday evening, the organisers finally brought in the said changes.
However, even that change was not free of controversies leaving the organisers aggrieved. Chandrachur Goswami, one of the Puja organisers, alleged that the changes were made forcefully by the local police from Kasba Police station. "It was the police who removed the spectacles and attached a wig and moustache on the idol. We received threatening calls. The police threatened us to close down our Puja and ultimately, we had to accept the changes. But our protests will be on," he said.
A section of the Puja organisers reportedly wished to remove the idol of Mahisasura altogether as a mark of protest. But ultimately, they decided to continue with the changed look for the sake of traditional rituals which are incomplete without the demon's presence.
Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed against Goswami at the local Kasba Police Station. However, Goswami is not disturbed by that and he said that he will take up the matter legally.
Currently pursuing his Ph.D in environmental science, Goswami also contested as an independent candidate against chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 by-elections from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency.
However, he secured the eighth position in that poll securing just 81 votes, which include four post- ballot votes.
There is much bonhomie between the two communities on those days. The Muslim community not only takes part in the puja, but they take care of some of the important rituals during the festival. In fact, a Muslim family bears all the expenses of the Puja, and the head of the family Sheikh Ajijur Rahheman plays the role of ‘karta’ of a ‘havan’ performed on Dashami, the tenth day of Navaratri.
Ajijur , who has been accorded the status of a ‘Dalabehera’ (team leader), wears the ring made from ‘doob' grass by a Hindu priest. On his left sits a member of a Kayastha family with a palm leaf manuscript and on his right sits a Hindu holding a sword given by the then Ranpur King to the Dalabehera. The participation of the Dalbeheras in the ‘havan’ or Aparajita puja dates back to the 18th century when the king of Ranpur handed over his kingdom to a Muslim.
OTV visited the village to learn more about this deep-rooted harmony.
Legend has it that around 300 years ago, Birabar Dev fell out with Puri Gajapati, his elder brother. As Birabar did not get any help from the king, he used to sell garlands outside the Puri Jagannath temple to eke out a living. He once gifted two garlands to the queen. When the Gajapati came to know about it, he thought his brother was hatching some conspiracy against him with the help of the queen. So he ordered ‘Ghatak’ (an executioner) to kill his younger brother. But the Ghatak advised Birabar to leave Puri as soon as possible. Birabar then fled to Ranpur and took shelter there. The Ranpur king asked Birabar to look after Manibandha, one part of his kingdom. Birabar later added Bolgarh, Khanguria and Bankoi to his kingdom. He appointed Sheikh Manuar, a man from the Muslim community, as his lieutenant.
Once when Birabar was returning from a hunting expedition to the Kushapalla forest, he felt thirsty. He met Manika, a beautiful girl from the Adivasi Kandha community, who was carrying a pitcher of water. The girl quenched the thirst of the king who decided to marry her and proposed to her on the spot. She took the king to her home where her father Sukla Jani solemnized their marriage.
Manika and her parents started residing with the king. Following their marriage, Birabar became a great devotee of Goddess ‘Bhuyan,’ the deity of the Adivasi Kandhas and decided to build a temple for the deity. But the wall of the temple could never be erected. It collapsed each time it was built. The deity told Manika in her dream to make a human sacrifice to erect the wall. Manika sacrificed her life. Since then the Goddess has been known as ‘Manika Bhuyan.’ Subsequently, a fort was built there and it was known as Manika Gada, and later as Manikagada.
One day, the Dasapalla king went to the Puri temple with his siblings. During his stay in Puri, they paid a courtesy visit to Puri Gajapati who welcomed them wholeheartedly. Seeing Gajapatia a little upset, the Dasapala king wanted to know the reason. Puri Gajapati told the Dasapala king how he regretted plotting against his younger brother. The Dasapala king told Puri Gajapati that his brother had not been harmed. Thereafter, an elated Puri Gajapati visited his younger brother who was leading a lonely life following his wife’s death.
Puri Gajapati took his brother to Puri so that the latter could get rid of the queen’s memories. While leaving Manikagada, Birabar handed over his kingdom to his lieutenant Sheikh Manuar. The king, however, advised the lieutenant to perform Dussehra every year with pomp and gaiety. Since then, his lieutenant Sheikh Manuar and his descendants have been organising the Dussehra in Manikagada. As per records, the first Dalabehera had come from Hyderabad. After him, the genealogy runs through Sheikh Anwar, Sheikh GolamAlli, Sheikh Agazan, Sheikh Basiruddin to the present Dalabehera Sheikh Habibur Rehman.
In Manikagada, the Muslim Dalabehera occupies the prime place during Dussehra. Going by tradition, the festival continues for four days beginning from Saptami. It is customary here to observe the ‘Sohala Puja’ before Dussehra. This puja takes place in the Bhagabati Peeth situated to the east of the village.
Kanak Durga worshipped in Dibyasinghpur is brought here as the Goddess for the Puja. On the Saptami Day, the ‘Chhatri’ of Manika Bhuyan is worshipped by the Kandhas, the Katari of Mahisasuri is worshipped by the Dumal Gaudas, the palm leaf and lekhani of Karan Panjikar and the sword given by the Gajapati to the Muslim Dalabehera are placed together as ‘Saja.’ The Khandayat paikas also cleanse their traditional weapons and place them in Akhadaghar for the puja.
On Bijayadasami day, different techniques of the many martial arts are performed by the paikas. In the evening, everyone assembles in Manika Bhuyan’s place. The Jani (leader of the Kandha community) prays to the Goddess for the welfare of the entire mankind. The Jani is then ‘possessed’ by Goddess Manika Bhuyan and a sacrifice is made to appease the Goddess. Thereafter, Hindus and Muslims move with the ‘possessed’ Jani in a procession through the village accompanied by the drumbeaters and paikas. The Muslim Dalabehera dressed up in traditional Hindu costume welcomes the Goddess and performs certain rituals at his doorstep before offering prasad to the deity. The Dalabehera performs the role of a ‘karta’ in the ‘havan’ which is known as Aparajita puja to mark the end of the carnival.
Ajijur who plays a pivotal role in the puja rituals after the death of his father and grandfather, says, “The Durga Puja at Manikagada village is unique as a Muslim family organises it. I have been performing the role of a ‘karta’ in the ‘havan’ for the last two years. Besides, the prasad offered to the Goddess is prepared by my family. It is later served to the Hindus and other devotees.”
“My forefathers had kept the people of different faiths united. In our village, we give importance to all the festivals whether it is Dussehra or Eid. We take part in their festivals and vice versa. Though sometimes we have no money, we continue to organise the Puja. To our surprise, we are able to raise funds at the last moment. This is because of the Goddess’s blessing,” proud Ajijur maintains.
He further says, “Durga Puja here is unique. On the day of Saptami, the idol of goddess Kanak Durga is brought here from Dibyasinghpur. The idol of the Kanak Durga remains blindfolded for the whole year. The blindfold is removed for four days starting from Saptami. On the Dashami day, her eyes are blindfolded again. I feel extremely proud of the rich tradition that my family has kept alive. In our village, we give equal importance to festivals of both communities. Religion is for a community while festivals are for all.”
A digital show was going on at the pandal when the fire broke out on Sunday night, reducing the pandal in Narthua village to ashes.
More than 300 people were in the pandal when the blaze erupted and a majority of them were women and children.
District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi said the fire broke out at around 9:30 pm on Sunday when a halogen light at the pandal overheated, causing an electric wire to catch fire.
Soon the fire engulfed the wooden scaffolding and the tent, Rathi said.
The cause of the fire was ascertained by a special probe team constituted by Additional Director General Ram Kumar, the district magistrate said
A total of 67 people were injured in the fire and three of them identified as Ankush Soni (12), Jaya Devi (45) and Naveen (10) died. Later, two more Arti Chaubey (48) and Harshvardhan (8) died during treatment, a senior official said.
Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar said an FIR has been lodged at Aurai police station.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the loss of lives in the incident, his office said in a tweet on Sunday.
Adityanath has directed officials to ensure that the injured get proper treatment.