Odisha

Maid Worship As Tradition On Durganavami In Odisha’s Sonepur Palace

By
OB Bureau

Sonepur: Young and unmarried girls are felicitated at the Durgadevi temple in Sonepur palace as part of the Navakanya Puja during the Navaratri Celebrations here.

This is a rare tradition followed in the Sonepur Palace wherein women on Kuanri Vrat worship virgin girls as representatives of Goddess Shakti. It is believed that the presiding deity showers blessings on the worshippers who take a Navaratri vow and wash the feet of young girls, offer new clothes and sweet delicasies on the day of Durga Navami.

The worship of maids as a tradition coincides with Navami puja at the Devi shrine. According to mythology, the tradition of virgin worship originated long before the birth of Sri Krishna when virgin girls were not safe in the kingdom of Kamsa.

Worship of nine virgins, addressed as Bijlikanyas (thundergirls), ensured peace, happiness and prosperity in the kingdom, says Ganesh Dash, priest of Sonepur Kanaka Durga Temple. Virginity as a symbol of biological and spiritual purity is the first pre-requisite of Tantrik cult which has evolved into the Navakanya Puja, he added.

 

 

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Hina Khan Shares Warm Post For ‘Humble And Kind’ Salman Khan

Mumbai: Television actress Hina Khan, who is battling breast cancer, recently met host Salman Khan…

November 23, 2024

AR Rahman Sends Legal Notice To Defamers Over Link-Up Rumours With Mohini Dey

 Mumbai: Following reports of his alleged link-up with bassist Mohini Dey, renowned music composer AR…

November 23, 2024

Tamannah Bhatia & Vijay Varma Go House Hunting; Is Marriage On Cards?

Mumbai: The love story of actors Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma has not been clandestine.…

November 23, 2024

Puri Jagannath Temple Admn Receives Ratna Bhandar GPR-GPS Survey Report; Asks ASI To Start Repair Work

Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has received the report of the Ratna Bhandar’s GPR-GPS…

November 23, 2024

Book Review: A Redemptive Tale Of Losing And Finding

With his debut novel ‘The Other Side of the Rainbow’ published recently, Niranjan Nayak, an…

November 23, 2024

Santosh Trophy: Odisha Seal Spot In Final Round With 2 Big Wins

Bhubaneswar: Odisha outplayed Chhattisgarh 4-1 on Saturday to seal a berth in the final round…

November 23, 2024

Diljit Dosanjh Asks States To Go Dry; ‘I Will Then Stop Singing Songs On Alcohol’

Mumbai: The Telangana government’s notice barring him from singing songs promoting alcohol and drugs at…

November 23, 2024

PM Modi To Participate In ‘Odisha Parba 2024’ In Delhi Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the ‘Odisha Parba 2024’ programme on Sunday…

November 23, 2024