Kandhamal, (Fast News Odisha): The monsoon season has started. And after two days Mahisha Mardini’s mother Durga will descend to Dharapa. Preparations are in full swing for Mother’s invitation. In this context, Sri Sri Sri Ma’ Patkhanda Durga Puja Samiti Anukully in Baliguda, Kandhamal District has started the famous Navratri Durga Puja in the Durga Mandap in the premises of the temple of Goddess Ma’ Patkhanda, the presiding deity of the region. With this, hundreds of female devotees came out to Khadag river in a huge courtyard near the temple of the local mother Patkhanda with chanting, bells and musical instruments and brought water in pots from the river and installed it on the mother’s pedestal. Mother’s Navaratri Upachar Pooja has been started from Monday in various Shakti Pithas in and around Baliguda for nine days. From Moolaschmi to Mahasthami, rituals such as Chandi Text, Mahasnan, Homa and Surya Puja will be performed according to the rituals followed by Maa’s special puja. Pandit Thacharambara Rath, Purna Chandra Shetpathi, Himanshu Shekhar Das, Ramakrishna Acharya, Ashok Kumar Das as senior priests are present and editing the regular puja program. With this, special puja rules have been started at the Shakti Pitha of Mother Patkhanda Durga Puja Samiti. For 9 days, the mother will appear to the devotees in a new look. On the other hand, the mandap is decorated with the statue of mother by the skilled sculptors of Calcutta and the high tower by the skilled craftsmen of Bhubaneswar has attracted the city. Devotees have been coming from the very first day to see Maa. On the other hand, extensive security has been put in place by the Puja Committee and the Police Administration for the smooth completion of the Puja. The president of the puja committee Sanyasi Pot and the editor Sushant Kumar Pot have revealed that all the preparations have been completed. The key workers of the association are present and assisting in the management of the program.
Report by Sanjay Kumar Munigrahi from Kandhamal District, Fast News Odisha l