Bhubaneswar: With the religious fervour continuing to grip the state on the occasion of six-day-long Durga Puja festival, devotees in large numbers took part in the Maha Navami puja at pandals across Odisha today.
Maha Navami, which marks a special day during Durga Puja with ‘Sandhi Puja’ ritual in it, witnessed puja pandals decorated with flowers beautifully and echoing with the chanting of mantras by priests, blowing of conch and ‘hulahulis’ starting from the morning today. As per the rituals 16 offerings or ‘Shodasopachar Puja’ of Goddess Durga were also performed.
Twin City Bhubaneswar-Cuttack wore an elegant look on the occasion of the Maha Navami by showcasing massive pandals, all of those replicating classis structures from across the world along with crowded streets. Saheed Nagar puja mandap located at the heart of the city flaunted the medha (backdrop) made of silver weighing about 2.5 quintals with a height and width of 18-foot. The idol of Goddess is 12 feet high and is decorated with gold ornaments weighing at least 100 grams. Similarly, the pandal which resembled the famous Chittor Fort of Rajasthan witnessed a massive footfall of devotees like on the Astami, yesterday.
Notably, as many as 178 Durga Puja pandals have come up in the Odisha capital this year.
In Cuttack, Maha Navami witnessed a spirited crowd which took part in the puja starting from the morning to seek blessings from the Goddess for good heatlh and prosperity. In Kathagada Sahi in the Millenium City, where Durga Puja is being celebrated for last hundred years the pandal got jam packed with devotees virtually competing with each other to take a glimpse of the ‘medha’ decorated with silver filigree work.
As per the legend, Goddess Durga’s Chamunda Avatar had sprang out in the last 24 mintues of Ashtami and first 24 minutes of Maha Navami which is regarded as ‘Sandhikhyan’ during Her fight with ‘Mahisasur’. During this ‘Sandhikhyan’ Mother Chamunda slayed demons Chanda and Mundo after they broke the rule of the war and attacked Her from behind.
As per the rituals devotees make their final offering to Goddess Durga.
Also Read: Know the traffic restrictions for Durga Puja in Bhubaneswar
Kalinga AI