Bhubaneswar: The people, who are missing pandal hopping, giant-wheel ride, mouth-watering food, gathering and all the fun this Dussera in the city, can hold their hearts. For, they can have their share of the festivities albeit in a digital way. They can have prasad online.
After the state government enforced pandemic protocols and extended night curfew in the city during Dussera, the festival has lost its charm and grandeur, particularly at community puja pandals. While giant gates and melas are missing, the crowd has thinned down and the roads have become deserted.
But some organisers have come with the idea to extend parts of the celebration in digital way. They are offering “bhoga” online to devotees across the city. Saheed Nagar Durga Puja Committee is providing the bhoga online from Saptami to Dashami.
The people can book bhoga by visiting the committee’s official website www.saheednagardurgapuja.com. They have to pay Rs 80 to the committee for booking the bhoga.
“Devotees can book their bhoga meal both online and offline by paying the fixed amount. The bhoga meal includes rice, dal, vegetarian curry and khatta. People can also watch the rituals by visiting our facebook page and youtube chanel,” said secretary of the puja committee Narayan Mohapatra.
“After visiting two-three pandals, I found bhoga at the Saheed Nagar mandap. Thanks to the members of the puja committee for providing bhoga to devotees during this pandemic situation,” said a devotee, Ratan Digal.
The organisers of Jharpada Puja Mandap have bhoga meal of different taste to offer. Their meal includes dahi bhata (curd rice), dahi chuda (beaten rice soaked in curd) and Janhi poda (baked ridge gourd) offered to Devi Maa on the concluding day of Dussera.
However, VSS Nagar Durga Puja Samiti, Rasulgarh Puja Mandap and Jharpada Puja Committee have made no such arrangements.
Meanwhile, Astami Bihita Puja began on Wednesday morning with Chandipatha scheduled for 1.45 pm and Sandhi Puja at 7.25 pm. On the day, the pana arpan ritual will be performed before the Balidan and 108 deepadan at night.
After completing the Panitola and Chakshudan rituals, varieties of fruits and ladoos were offered to the deity in the morning while Khechudi, Arua Arnna and Saga Bhaja were the prasad at midday. Sandhya Aalati and Pushpanjali were performed at 2.45 pm followed by the Shiva Sahashra Nama Yagna ritual.
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