Durga Puja In Odisha: From Puri’s Gosani Yatra To Present-Day Theme Pandals In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Durga Puja or Dussehra festival that is celebrated across Odisha has come a long way since its inception of earthen idol worship to the present-day glitch and glamour associated with the community celebration.

The origin of Durga Puja in the country can be traced to 300 BC when the King of Chaitra/Chedi dynasty, Raja Suratha, started it, as per Markendaya Purana. But historians believe that the worship of earthen Durga idols in Odisha started during the reign of Ganga King Chodaganga Dev at Puri in 11th century.

The earthen idol of Mahishamarddini Durga is known as Gosani and hence the festival is called ‘Gosani Yatra.’ During the Ganga dynasty rule, Mahisamardini Durga and Madhava (Lord Jagannath) were worshipped together in Puri.

But it took the puja almost four centuries to reach Cuttack. It is believed that Chaitanya Dev of the Bhakti cult visited Cuttack, which was then the capital of Gajapati empire of Odisha, between 1512 and 1517. Gajapati king Pratap Rudra Dev received him at Gadagadia Ghata on the banks of Mahanadi, close to the king’s palace popularly known as Barabati Fort. In the same year, Sri Chatanya Deva started Durga Puja at Binod Bihari temple, which is presently known as Balu Bazar.

Beginning of Sharadiya Durga Puja in Odisha

The concept of celebrating Durga Puja during the autumn season, or Sharad Ritu, was introduced in the state some 400 years back. The Ghosh Mahashaya family migrated from Kotarang near Howrah to settle down at Rameswarpur in Bhadrak district. They brought the tradition of Sharadiya Durga Puja to the state.

How did Durga Puja start in Bhubaneswar?

Various accounts describe the origin of Durga Puja in the Odisha capital. However, most historical accounts agree that community celebration of Durga Puja in Bhubaneswar has been going on for at least a century, having begun in the city’s Old Town and Sundarpada neighborhoods.

It is claimed that there were at least 60 Medhas (pandals) in these two regions which have risen to more than 100 today. “As kids we remember frequenting Sundarpada, Kapilaprasad and Old Town where every Sahi (lane) had a Durga idol of their own,” president of Saheed Nagar Puja Committee Hemant Kumar Parida said.

Since 1950s, Durga Puja has also been celebrated in Ashok Nagar’s Kalibari, Old Station Bazar and Unit II Market Building.

Following India’s independence, Old Station Bazar hosted the Durga Puja. In order to commemorate Durga Puja in the capital city, the people who lived in the Railway Colony in Old Station Bazar—mostly railway workers—started it.

Concept of Large Scale Puja and Massive Pandals

Over the decades, Durga Puja celebrations in Bhubaneswar have grown in size and significance, drawing visitors from across Odisha and beyond. Today, the town hosts at least 200 pujas. Large idols of Goddess Durga, the artistic ‘Medhas’, conceptual themes and vibrant festivities, all together have given a new dimension to Durga Puja celebrations in the Temple City.

“Saheed Nagar Durga Puja, one of the oldest in the city, started way back in 1978 under the guidance Dhiren Das, Dr Jagannath Mohapatra, Sachidananda Rath, Kamalakanta Das and Basanta Kumar Sahu. Durga Puja began in a grand scale at Saheed Nagar in 1985,” said secretary of Saheed Nagar Durga Puja Samiti Sachidananda Nayak.

“In the beginning, there was no money for hiring a tent house for decoration. Clothes and lights were borrowed from local residents and Dhiren Das crafted magic with his artwork. Today, around 100 artisans and workers toil for 45 days to build the majestic and intricately designed structures,” said Nayak.

Similarly, Nayapalli Durga Puja Samiti has been celebrating puja with grandeur since 1988. Making an humble beginning 38 years back, today Durga Puja at Nayapalli witnesses a footfall of lakhs from Sasthi to Dashami.

“We hire expert artisans from Kolkata from the beginning. Our huge gates and medhas have gained fame over time winning the first prize on several occasions,” said Premananda Jena, a founder member and first general secretary of Nayapalli Durga Puja Committee.

Over a period of time, the government have set new guidelines keeping pace with the local needs and environment. Now-a-days, the structures are made with eco-friendly materials like bamboo, clay, plywood, herbal colours and biodegradable items to reduce environmental impact.

Durga Puja in Bhubaneswar

In Odisha, Ravana Podi on Dussehra was first held at Rourkela in 1981 and came to Saheed Nagar in Bhubaneswar a year later. Similarly, there used to be an overhead gate for visitors in Saheed Nagar during Durga Puja. “Installation of overhead gates stopped due to growing traffic and number of commercial establishments in the area. Skilled artisans from Contai in West Bengal have contributed to Saheed Nagar puja since decades,” said Parida.

Durga Puja at Nayapalli traces its roots to the Gandhi Market puja which was disrupted on Ashtami in 1986 due to a fire. “On the advice of elders, we completed the puja. Durga Puja once started at a location must continue without discontinuation for 12 years. Otherwise, it is considered inauspicious. So, we started Nayapalli Durga Puja in 1987 under the guidance of our patron Rohit Kumar Das, and the rest is history,” said Jena.

Theme pandals this year

Rasulgarh: This year, Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee is erecting a replica of Gujarat’s Swaminarayan Temple. According to sources, organisers are leaving no stone unturned to create awe inspiring thematic pandals to make the puja even grander and more pompous than ever before.

Jharpada: The Jharpada Durga Puja Samiti is creating an ‘Imperial Palace’ this year with an 85-ft tall and 150-ft wide structure being erected for visitors. At its entrance, the palace will have a garden and a fountain. Artisans and idol makers are giving finishing touches to the creation.

Old Station Bazar: The Old Station Bazaar Durga Puja Samiti’s pandal is inspired by the 900-year-old Vishnu Temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Standing 40 feet tall and 154 feet wide, the pandal promises to be a visual marvel, with the Goddess and other deities adorned in exquisite silver ornaments.