The Basanti Durga Puja (worshipping Goddess Durga in spring season) is now slowly but steadily catching up in Cuttack city. As many as 22 Mandaps of the city are holding the Basanti Durga Puja this year which began on Tuesday with almost equal spiritual fervour and grandeur as is observed during the Sharadiya Durga Puja in autumn.
“This year, the idols of Goddess Durga are being worshipped in as many as 22 pandals of the city and most of the Mandaps have sported the famous silver tableaus, the hallmark of Cuttack Durga Puja,” said Mahanagar Puja Committee president Bhikari Das.
The celebrations began with Belabarani (invite and installation of the goddess) to the Mandaps and Sashthi Puja. While Chakshudan (painting the eyes of the idol) was performed on Wednesday followed by Saptami Puja, the Mahaastami Puja will be held on Thursday and Friday.
“The district administration has fixed April 20 and 21 for the immersion of the deities,” informed Das, saying some idols would be immersed in river water immediately after the Dashami Puja on Saturday. He said the while the Sharadiya Durga Puja in October is held as per the Bangiya (Bengali) rituals, the Basanti Durga Puja is held as per the the Utkaliya (Odia) rituals.
Meanwhile, the district administration too has made elaborate arrangements for the four-day long Puja, the police arrangements for the evening cultural programmes at the Mandaps have been made by the Commissionerate Police.