Count down begins for Durga puja



Jaa devi sarba bhuteshu........



Berhampur: Mahalaya welcomed the goddess Durga for the season of festival to bring bountiful yield and happiness to the home. Durga puja is also known as Navratri puja which says the worshipping of goddess Durga for nine days. Like Kolkata, Gujarat and Cuttack; Berhampur also gears up for Durga Puja.

Ganjam is famous for its religious “Shakti shrines” where the ritual of the sixteen day festival is strictly followed. This ritual is known as “Shodasa Upachara” unlike in other parts of the country where it lasts for three to nine days at most. The prominent Sakti shrines in Ganjam include presiding deity (Ista-Devi) of South Orissa Tara Tarini near Purusottampur, goddess Narayani near Khallikote, goddess Mahamayee (Budhi Thakurani) of Berhampur, goddess Bhairavi at Mantridi 15 km away from Berhampur, goddess Ramachandi at Gadamanitri 5 km away from Ganjam town, Mahuri Kalika, Ghata Kalika, Kandhuni Devi, Byaghra Devi, Balakumari, Barahi, Khambeswari, Simhasini, Shyamalai, Kureisuni, Siddha Harachandi with other Sakti shrines of Ganjam district are geared up for the festival Dussehera which is celebrated  with utmost solemnity, religious fervor, gaiety and éclat.

Some Puja Mandaps in the city have started the rituals of Navaratri puja formally from Mahalaya night. The Silk city Berhampur which is known as one of the prominent socio-cultural centers and religious epicenter of Odisha as it connects two different cultures of Odia and Telugu since the ancient times is getting ready for the much awaited carnival.



Bijipur Dussehera medha



The Puja bazaar is all set to make a good business in this session. The garment showrooms, wholesale markets also hit the market of Berhampur, the commercial nerve centre as well as an inter-state business center of Odisha. Traffic is getting thicker gradually in the areas beginning from Head post office square to fire station road, Annapurna Road, Urban Bank Road, SNT Temple Road, Sanabazaar and Badabazaar area. So the police administration is planning for a better traffic management during Puja.

The puja mandaps’ of Komapalli Square, Courtpeta Square, Bijipur, Station Road, Old Bus stand, Girija Square, Giri market, Hanuman Bazaar and badabazaar have been started formally the nine day puja of goddess Durga from the night of Mahalaya. Out of total 39 worshiping places, nine were opened their puja pandals and started the rituals of nine day puja. Others may open likely on seventh or eighth day of the ritual of Navratri puja.

The attraction of the puja is their respective pandals draped in different colours and in different themes, ideas and innovative arts and designs. According to a member Kali Prasad Patra of Bijipur Puja committee, they have hired artists from Dhenkanal and Kolkata for the design of their puja pandal like a temple of Nepal. The pandal is made up of different colored and designed mats, while the idol is of 15 feet height mesmerizing the devotees of the city.

City administration, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) along with the police administration is ready for the nine day long carnival. For the better sanitation facility, BMC have planned for special arrangement for the devotees. Administration imposed ban on using of Mike after 10 pm of the night and it permitted bhajans for playing on the puja mandaps.

Navaratri puja has brought joy and exuberance among the inhabitants of the city once again. They believe that Durga puja not a puja only, but it is the original feeling and experiencing of their old tradition and Sakti-cult of the state as well as Ganjam from very near.