Jajpur: In a rare celebration of Dussehra, Rath Yatra of Goddess Durga is organised for the deity of a Devi shrine in Odisha for all 9 days of the festival.
The worship of Goddess Durga in temples, shrines and places of worship across the state has been the regular practice. But in a departure from the practice, the deity of Maa Biraja temple in Jajpur is taken in a chariot as part of Rath Yatra during all 9 days of Navratri.
The single chariot, decorated with colourful clothes like that of Lords of Jagannath Temple in Puri, is pulled by the devotees at night after the priests of Biraja temple perform the rituals during the day. It is believed that darshan of Devi in the chariot brings peace and prosperity for the devotees.
From early morning on every day of Navratri, the Goddess is given a bath with sacred water brought from river Baitarani. It is followed by performing the rituals with chanting of shlokas (hymns) and yajna.
Devi is taken out of the temple in a procession like ‘Pahandi Bije’ of Lord Jagannath amid beating of cymbals and blowing of conches by the servitors in the evening. The deity is placed inside the chariot which is pulled by the devotees around the temple.
“The Rath Yatra of Maa Durga is exclusive tradition in Biraja Temple which is not followed in any Shakti shrine. Devi Herself comes out of the abode to give darshan to the devotees during Dussehra. Since it is a rare practice, thousands of devotees from across Odisha and outside throng the temple every year,” said Durga Madhav Pani, a servitor of the temple.
Since the Rath Yatra of Maa Biraja is celebrated with participation of the devotees after a break of 2 years of COVID induced lockdown, the district administration has made elaborate security arrangements expecting huge turnout of the visitors to the shrine.
