City

‘Danda Nata’ Concludes With Final Penance By Devotees In Odisha’s Ganjam

By
Sunil Patnaik

Berhampur: The ‘Danda Nata’, which was going on for the last 21 days across Odisha’s Ganjam district, concluded amid religious fervour on ‘Maha Bishuba Sankranti’ on Friday.

The district, which came alive with the sound of drums, cymbals and conch shells all these days, witnessed groups of people dancing barefoot on the streets undeterred by the scorching heat on the final day of the festival.

‘Danda’ as the name implies, is self-inflicted punishment, which the ‘Danduas’ undergo to pay their obeisance to Maa Kali. It is also a form of worshipping Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. The ‘Danduas’ undergo a lot of pain and hardship to appease the Goddess and they believe that the Goddesses would then fulfill their wishes. Some others do it to show their gratitude to the Goddesses for having fulfilled their wishes, pre-ordained vows or ‘Manasikas’.

The Danda Nata is performed during ‘Chaitra’ month in Odia calendar. It begins 13, 18 or 21 days before ‘Bishuba Sankranti’ and culminates on ‘Meru Sankranti’.

During the festival, the Bhoktas or Danduas took up life of hard penance for three weeks and became member of ‘Danda Nata’ troupes. They left the comfort of their homes to take up the penance in a festive mood in honour of mother goddess ‘Danda Kali’. After ‘Meru Jatra’, they returned to their respective homes.

People in large numbers gathered at Danda Kali temples in parts of the district to take part in the final rituals. In Berhampur, ‘Meru Jatra’ was celebrated at Danda Kali temples at Panigrahipentha, Diamond Tank Road, Bijipur, Ambapua and Anand Sarani.

A large number of devotees gathered in those places to have a glimpse of the final offering of the ‘Pata Bhoktas’, who lead the ‘Danda Nata’ troupes. After ritualistic bath, the ‘Pata Bhoktas’ were led to the Danda Kali temples by other ‘Danduas’. The ‘Pata Bhoktas’ were blind-folded, their bodies smeared with a special paste comprising turmeric and other herbs. They were blind-folded and hung above a pit of fire upside down as part of the rituals.

Sunil Patnaik

Recent Posts

IPL Auction: KKR Break Bank For Venkatesh On Lucrative Day For Indian Players; Check Top Buys

Mumbai: The first day of the IPL mega player auction at Jeddah threw up several…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Hands Over Case Of Attack On Dharmasala MLA To Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has handed over the investigation into the attack on Dhramasala MLA…

November 24, 2024

Commissionerate Police Issues Traffic Advisory During Winter Session Of Odisha Assembly; Details Here

Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate of Police on Sunday issued an advisory for movement of vehicular traffic…

November 24, 2024

Elon Musk Proposal: Fire US Federal Employees Who Want To Work From Home

New York: Now that President-elect Donald Trump has tasked Elon Musk with the responsibility of co-heading…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Warns Of Stern Action For Renting Out Its Quarters

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has warned its employees of stern action for sub-letting their allotted…

November 24, 2024

AR Rahman Best Man In The World, Certifies Saira Banu; Then Why Their Separation?

Mumbai: There has been a lot of talk over AR Rahman and his wife Saira…

November 24, 2024

Process On To Form NODC In 2-3 Months, Says Odisha CM Mohan Majhi

Sundargarh: The North Odisha Development Council (NODC) would be formed in 2-3 months, said Chief…

November 24, 2024

Odisha DGP Reviews Security Arrangements For President’s Visit To Puri

Puri: Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on Sunday reviewed the security arrangements for…

November 24, 2024