Dussehhra Festival

Post by Prasant

Durga Puja symbolises the commemoration of good over evil. It is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety by Oriyas and Bengalis residing in Orissa. Durga Puja is celebrated in every town and city of Orissa.But mainly the celebration takes place in Cuttack, Berhampur,Bhubaneswar, Raurkela,Sambalpur,Balaswar and Jaipur. The three major Pujas of the state are the Chandi medha ("Chandi" means Silver) of Cuttack, Shahid Nagar's Durga Puja and Nayapalli's Durga Puja. Life comes to a stand-still in the city of Cuttack,Berhampur, Raurkela and Bhubaneswar as crowds pour into the Puja Mandaps to enjoy the festivities. On the day succeeding "Vijaya Dasami", the last day of Dussehra, the images are taken in a spectacular procession for immersion.The city of Cuttack is the socio-cultural center of the state of Odisha. The earliest Durga Puja was reportedly held in the Kazi Bajaar area of the city in 1832 by both Odias and Bengalis, employees of 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.Now the silver and gold jewellary clad Durga is seen in many lanes and pandals. The pandal is permanent throughout the year in the suburbs of Cuttack, where regular worship is done for the divine mother, and idols are made only during Dussehra time and immersed after that.