The immersion of Durga idols in Rajnagar block is a unique event. The locals and puja organizers take out pageants in boats and immerse the idols in rivers amid beating of drums and other musical instruments. This is done in a royal fashion as the Kings of Kanika used to participate in the immersion ceremony and had started the boating tradition. On Saturday, the idols were immersed in traditional style in which the Kanika royal family was associated.
According to Rajnagar police station IIC Sitakanta Kanungo, this year 16 puja pandals were erected at Rajnagar bazaar. The day after Dussehra, the locals, as per age old tradition, took four medhas to the Hansua river where well decorated boats were reserved for ferrying the idols. The idols were taken to the mid of the river and immersed.
According to locals, the ritual is observed for pleasure of the deities before they are immersed in the river. It is a centuries’ old tradition and is continued here with much fervour and gaiety. Former King of Kanika Bhujabala Bhanjadeo had started the deity immersion in boating during his reign about 200 years back.
According to Siba Prasad Sahu, member of Bana Durga puja committee, King Bhanjadeo had started the tradition to protect the area from nature’s fury and epidemic.
Tight police arrangements were also made on Saturday to make the immersion hassle-free. Fire tender personnel and fishermen were deployed to lend their helping hands. Thousands of locals stood by the river bank to witness the boating. No untoward incident occurred, informed IIC Kanungo.