Durga Puja in Odisha

How powerful is the cult of Shakti worship in Orissa, both in the Tantric and non-Tantric forms, call be realized from tile festivals Vasanti Durga Puja or Chaitra Durga Puja in the Oriya month of Chaitra (March or April),Sharadiyo Durga Puja in the Oriya month of Aswina(September-October) and Kalipuja (October-November) which are celebrated with utmost solemnity, gaiety and eclat. The great Mother as the ten-handed Durga is believed to come down from her husbands home on Mount Kailash to her parents abode on the Himalayas every year for three days, tile 7th , 8th and 9th days of the bright fortnight in the month of of Aswina. There site is Parvati or Shailaja, the daughter of king of mountains, but in her incarnation as Durga she is worshipped as the destroyer of the buffalo-demon Mahisasura. In Orissa richly decorated and beautiful made images are installed all over the state and the festival instils a spirit of holiness and sancity into the whole community so much so that people of other faiths participate in it with abundant warmth and sincerity. In Orissa the special feature of Durga Puja is that in the temples it soreads ovet sixteen days known as Shodasa Upachara unlike on other parts of the country where it lasts for three to nine days at most.

History of Durga Puja in Orissa

Various accounts exist which ascribe the origin of Durga Puja in the state of Orissa. All historical accounts agree on the influence from Bengal although some mythological accounts describe an independent origin.

Durga Puja is a festival, which is observed for 10 days.Orissa,the land of Lord Jagannath,the land of powerful Hindu Kingdom,the land of Raja & Maharaja's,the royals of Orissa patronage anuual Sharodiyo Utsav before the state abolition with Republic of India.The Durga Puja is celebrated in two different ways in Orissa.In Shakti peethas (temples of goddess) the Durga Puja is observed with proper rituals for 10 to 16 days known as Shodasa Upachara. Goddess Durga is also worshiped by devotees in different pendals in form deities across the state. The pendals are decorated with beautiful decoratives.

According to Markandeya Purana the King of Chedi dynasty Suratha started rituals of Durga Puja during 300B.C.The Chedi dynasty belongs to Kalinga(modern Orissa).Durga Puia has different names in different Puranas and Sastras. In Devi Purana & Kalika Purana it is named as Vijaya Dashami. It is named as Mahaparbana in Devi Mahatmya and Duseehera in Markandeya Purana.

It is said that in the year 1512 to 1517 Chaitanya Deva had came to Cuttack,the capital of Gajapati empire of Orissa and the then eperor of Orissa Gajapati Pratap Rudra Dev received him at Gadagadia Ghata situated near the river bank of Mahanadi very close to the kings Palace popularly known as Barabati fort. In that year Sri Chatanya Deva started Durga puja at Binod Bihari temple presently known as Balu Bazar. Further it is also believed that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whose birth placed is Cuttack had organized Durga puja with great Pump and show to organize youngsters in British India exactly like Lokamanya Balagangadar Tilak had done it at Maharastra(the Ganesh Utsav).

Dussera celebrates the homecoming of Rama the hero of the epic Ramayana, after his victory over Ravana, the king of Lanka. In vast open spaces, Ramleela, the folk play with music and spontaneous dialogues, retelling the story of the life of Rama, are enacted till the wee hours. Songs are sung in praise of Rama and people in thousands witness this traditional theatre with its exaggerated costumes, jewellery, makeup and drama. Larger than life figures of Ravana and other demons are burnt on cold dark nights with fireworks lighting up the sky known as Ravan Podi on the day of Vijaya Dasami. In the traditional villages in the state of Orissa has their own way of celebrating the Dussera. Traditional sword fighting were organised by the village associations (Akharas) mostly from the Khandayats,Banayats and Paikas,the warrior class (Kshetriyas).The holy scriptures testify that on this day Rama killed Ravana and his victory was celebrated. Therefore, it is also called 'Vijaya Dasami'. (Victorious tenth day). In Orissa it was, therefore, a military festival. In the villages the agriculturists worship their implements. The Khandayats or the Paikas bring out their rusty swords, spears and other weaponry to clean and worship. The Paika Akhadas are held in which young men indulge in stylised military dances, display of sword-fighting and various acrobatic stunts. People in general polish their instruments of profession at this time and also clean, plaster and whitewash their houses. Beautiful flower-designs are painted on both sides of the doors. One of the oldest tradition in the Orissa’s Village Kusupur is being kept alive for last more than hundred years by Kusupur Dussera Sabha, which has the history of its uniqueness in itself.

Bhaijuntia: It is generally known in the region of western Orissa. Bhaijiutia feast is celebrated in the Mahastami day of the Durga Puja by the Oriya people of Western Orissa and Chhatisgarh. It is a total fasting by women for the whole day and night to seek the goddess Durga blessing for the long life of their bhais (brothers).

The autumnal or Sharadiya ceremony is known as various names in Orissa i.e. Dussehra,Durgapuja,Akal Bodhan,Shodasa Upachara,Durgostava,Sharadiyo Utasava etc.

The autumnal or Sharadiya ceremony started in different parts of the state at different times. Although the dates are the same, the traditions differ.

Cuttack

The city of Cuttack is the socio-cultural center of the state. The earliest puja was reportedly held in the Kazi Bajaar area of the city in 1832 by some Bengali families who were working for the East India Company. The local people participated in the festivities enthusiastically. However due to differences which cropped up later, the Oriyas decided to organise the Puja on their own.

A still earlier version holds that Chaitanya Deb Mahaprabhu started the Pujas in 1505 AD when he visited Cuttack on his way to Puri to the temple of Lord Jagannath. Even though this may be true, the autumnal ceremony or "Akaal Bodhon" as they are celebrated now is a much recent invention and is not codified in ancient Hindu scriptures.

Balasore

The Kar family of Balasore started Durga Puja here. In 1852, Shram Chandra Kar celebrated the first Durga Puja in the town. Durga Puja is now celebrated in many parts of the city of Balasore. The Kar family still celebrates the Puja every year making it one of the the oldest family puja in the state.

Bhadrak

Bhadrak is the seat of Goddess BhadraKali, one of the manifestations of Shakti. Durga Puja is linked to ancient rituals connected with the Goddess although the autumnal ceremony started in 18th century.