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Home , Durga Puja, Rameswarpur

October - 2012 Review

Antiquity of in Odisha

Om Prakash

Various accounts exist which ascribe the origin of Shodasa Upachara, which starts from 7 days Durga Puja in the state of Odisha. All historical earlier to Mahalaya and ends on accounts agree on the influence from other regions known as Dussehra. Goddess Durga is also although some mythological accounts describe an worshiped by devotees in different independent origin. across the state. The Pandals are beautifully Durga Puja is a festival, which is observed decorated decrative. for ten days. Odisha being the land of Lord of According to Markandeya Purana the Universe Shree , the land of sacred King of Chaitra/Chedi dynasty Raja Suratha Hindu Kingdom, the land of started of Durga Puja Santha, (saint), Muni/Rusi during 300 BC. The Chaitra (hermit) Raja and Maharaja, the dynasty belongs to Kalinga royals of Odisha patronage (modern Odisha). Durga Puia annual Sharodiyo Utsav before has different names in different the state's unification with and Sastras. In Republic of . The Durga Purana and it is Puja is celebrated in two different named as Vijaya Dashami. It is ways in Odisha. In named as Maha Parbana in Peethas (temples of Goddesses) and Dussehra the Durga Puja is observed with in Markandeya Purana. proper rituals for 3 to 16 days known as Tridinatmaka (3 days The present form of worship of from Astami, Nabami and Durga with earthen idol in Odisha Vijayadashami), was started during the reign of Panchadinatmaka (5 days from King Chodaganga Dev in Sasthi, Saptami, Astami, Nabami and the 11th century at Puri. The earthen idol of Vijayadashami), Nabadinatmaka (9 days from Mahishamarddini Durga is known as Gosani and Ashwina Ditiyaa to Vijayadashami) the Dussehra festival is known as Gosani Yatra. Shodadinatmaka (16 days from Mulastami to It is noteworthy that the co-worship of Vijayadashami) by Panchama Upachara and Mahishamarddini Durga with Madhava (Lord

21 Odisha Review October - 2012

Jagannath) is prevalent from 11th century, Eastern ornamentation was done entirely in gold and silver. Ganga dynasty period, in Puri. The bejeweled Devi in ’s Durga Puja Before the concept of Sarvajanin Durga attracts huge congregation from all over the world. Puja started, it was being conducted by princely A substantial increase in funding has led houses and the first such Puja being conducted to the gold plating of the ornamentation. Now it anywhere in the world at the same venue and is known as “Suna Medho” (Suna means Gold). continuing till date is in Odisha. It is at A few other Pujas in Cuttack now have silver Rameswarpur in district of the state, ornaments, too. where it was started about four centuries ago by The Durga Puja festivities are also the Mahashay family who migrated in from prominent in Maa Katak Chandi Temple. Maa Kotarang near as a part of Todarmal’s Cuttack Chandi is the presiding deity of Cuttack. famous survey of India during Emperor Akbar’s The goddess popularly called as Maa Katak rule. Chandi, sits and rules on the heart of the ancient Close view of Cuttack’s Durga Puja city. She is worshiped as Bhuvaneswari. Maa Chandi is worshipped in 16 incarnations It is said that in the year 1512 to 1517 (Sodasha Abatara) of Durga during the Puja. In AD Chaitanya had come to Cuttack, the Cuttack, people deeply devote Maa Katak capital of Gajapati Empire of Odisha and the then Chandi as ‘The Living Goddess’. emperor of Odisha Gajapati Pratap Dev received him at Gadagadia Ghata situated near The grand Pujas are being celebrated the river bank of Mahanadi very close to the kings country wide but particularly as special palace popularly known as Barabati fort. In that celebration in Odisha. year Shree Chaitanya Deva started Durga Puja One reason for the wide acceptance of at Binod Bihari temple presently known as Balu Durga Puja is the importance of Maa Tarini, who Bazaar. Further it is also believed that Netaji is considered one of the embodiments of Shakti , whose birthplace, is in Odia culture. In addition, the state is close to Cuttack had organized Durga puja with great and the people share a common socio- pomp and show to organize youngsters in British cultural history spanning millennia. Odisha is home India exactly like Lokamanya Balagangadhar to many important shrines dedicated to the Tilak had done it at Maharastra (the Ganesh Goddess; great festivities are organised there Utsav). The first recorded Sarvajanin Durga during Durga Puja and Puja. Puja in the state is said to have been in the year 1832 in the Kazi Bazaar area of Cuttack. It is thus one of the prime festivals of Odisha as well. People in Odisha celebrate it on A in Odisha is called “Medho”. a large scale. The Goddess Durga is among the For many years, the most expensive installation sacred Goddesses of Odisha. The celebrations was the Chaandi Tarakasi Merrha (Chaandi are quite similar to the neighbouring state of West Tarakasi means pure Silver filigree ornaments) of Bengal. Choudhuri Bazaar, Alisha Bazaar, Kazi Bazaa, Buxi Bazaar, Daragha Bazaar, Balu Bazaar, Sankarpur, Shikharpur area of Cuttack. The Prakash, Qr No:E/208, Unit-8, -751012.

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