Bhubaneswar: What’s better time than to explore Odisha’s heritage and culture during the festive season? Be it Durga Puja or the Gajalakshmi Puja of Dhenkanal, each festival is unique and replete with heritage. And, heritage enthusiasts are making the most out of this festive season to explore the state’s culture by conducting walks, closely linked to the various pujas held in different parts of Odisha.
Chandi Medha Heritage Walk, Cuttack
A special heritage walk, curated by former bureaucrat and writer Raja Parija, offering an insight into the various Chandi Medhas (silver filigree tableaux) was conducted by Cuttack Heritage Walks (CWH) at Cuttack on Thursday. Participants witnessed the living tradition of Chandi Medha in Cuttack as they started the walk from Madhusudan Sangrahalaya around 8 am.
During the walk, Parija spoke on the genesis of the tradition and also the socio-economic dynamics of the people associated with the Chandi Medhas of Cuttack, including the contributions of the Muslim artisans. Convener of CHW Dipak Samantarai led the show. The walk also featured the two latest additions to the elite Chandi Medha club—Ramgarh-Kanika Chhak committee and Tulasipur Durga Puja committee. While Ramgarh-Kanika Chhak committee set up a 14-ft high and 9-ft wide Chandi Medha, Tulasipur committee erected a 15-ft high and 14-ft wide Chandi Medha.
Exploring the Gosani Durga Puja in Puri
Heritage enthusiasts will participate in Gosani walks on October 13 (Sunday) to explore the traditional Durga Puja and Dussehera celebrations in Puri. The walk, curated by Deviprasanna Nanda, is the third edition of Puri Heritage Walks, which has been taking place since August on every second Sunday of a month.
“During this walk, we will take the heritage enthusiast to various sahis (lanes and by-lanes) the Srimandir, where the earthen idols or Gosanis of the goddess are worshipped. These deities are being worshipped since the ancient times. They are as old as the Srimandir,” said Kumar Aurojyoti, convener of the 3-hour long walk. The heritage walk will start from Kakudikhai Gosani around 4pm. “We will cover some of the prominent Gosanis like Kakudikhai, Sunya Gosani, Bhogojagah Gosani, Janhikhai Gosani, Barabati Gosani (the tallest of all), Chamunda, Mahanteswari, Chakrokot, Hara Chandi, Sitala, Panapriya and also the Naga medhas at Matimandap and Ravanaugraha (that showcases Ravana’s attempt to lift Kailasha), among other peeths,” he said. The enthusiasts will also explore the Naga Gosanis, which is the image of the wrestling warrior akin to Puri’s akhadas.
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.
Dhenkanal’s Gajalakshmi walks
Dhenkanal is famous for its Gajalakshmi Puja. In Dhenkanal, the festival lasts 11 days. All ‘chhaks’ and markets in the town are decorated with colourful and decorative lights and pandals on creative themes. The town attracts crowd of revellers from different places across Odisha and India. The history of this festival in Dhenkanal dates back to 1923, when it started with leaves and petronax lamps. Late Brajakishore Pattnaik, Natabar Debata, Gatikrushna Pattnaik, and a few others started the Puja for the first time at Kunja Sahoo Chhak. Heritage enthusiasts will explore the puja in Dhenkanal during the festival.
