Bhubaneswar: As festive spirit grips Odisha, the 300-year-old Jayadurga Puja in Rajnagar block of Kendrapada district continues to maintain its age-old rituals and special customs, showcasing rich in tradition and cultural heritage.
Believed to have originated during the reign of Kanika king Dibyasingha Bhanja, the annual festival is celebrated with enthusiasm. The then king is stated to have initiated the worship of Goddess Durga at Rajnagar, which was a prominent trading centre at that time. The associated rituals and festivities were introduced by him.
Subsequently, the king later entrusted the responsibility of conducting the puja to Pandit Somanath Mishra, who had arrived from Panchatirtha.
The tradition was subsequently carried forward by his descendants and local devotees. Kanika rulers, including Rajendra Narayan Bhanja Deo and Shailendra Narayan Bhanja Deo, also extended their support latre, helping the annual celebration flourish over generations.
Over the years the puja has undergone changes and buffalo sacrifice, once performed at midnight on Maha Ashtami, was discontinued following opposition to the practice. A water gourd is now offered symbolically in its place, reflecting the evolution of the ritual.
The annual ceremonies are performed by 11 priests in accordance with the prescribed rites from Bilwabarana to the Goddess’s ceremonial farewell.
Another distinctive feature of the festival is the clay idol of Maa Jayadurga. Scholars have described the idol’s form as unique and rare in the state. The Goddess is worshipped beneath a three-tiered decorative structure at the puja mandap.
The festivities culminate in the immersion ceremony, which is performed in the perennial Hansabati river, which flows near Rajnagar. The ritual, one of the most unique features of the celebration, is notable for its ceremonial boat procession and the traditional manner in which the Goddess is bid farewell.
The idol is placed on a decorated boat, which makes seven rounds amid the river currents before the immersion takes place. The spectacle draws thousands of devotees from different parts of Kendrapada district, who gather along both banks of the river to witness the ritual. Devotees bid an emotional adieu to the Goddess amid chants of Haribol.
