Preparation For Dussehra Begins With Collection Of Holy Soil In Cuttack

Cuttack: The preparation for Dussehra took off in Odisha’s Cuttack district on the occasion of auspicious occasion of ‘Janmashtami’ on Thursday.

As per the tradition, puja organising committees of different localities of the city brought holy soil from river banks for construction of the idols of Devi Durga in  grand procession on the day.

Since community celebration of Dussehra has been allowed in the city this year, the members of the committees along with the locals thronged the river banks in the morning. They took bath in the river and collected the soil in ‘Kalash’ (earthen pitcher).

The holy soil was brought in a procession amid beating of the drums and playing of musical instruments to the workshop of the committee. After performing certain rituals, the artisans will start making the idols of Devi Durga and others. After completion, the idols would be installed on a decorated pandal with a glittering background in the place of the community puja of the locality.

It may be noted that the community celebration of Dussehra was prohibited by the Odisha government due to COVID pandemic in the city for the last two years. However, with the spread of the disease being under control, the government has allowed the community puja this year.