A 61 feet high wooden chariot of 800 years’ old Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur town, known as Biraja Kshetra, is all set for a nine-day-long journey from October 9.
Here, the devotees organise a Rath Yatra on the next day of the Mahalaya Puja. Carpenters are now busy building the chariot.
“As a part of the basic preparations for the Car festival here, we have already repaired the road through which the procession will pass,” said Jajpur Collector Ranjan Das.
The Biraja Temple is one of the ancient Hindu temples of the State. It was built in the 13th century. The main idol is Devi Durga who is worshiped by the name Biraja. The idol is having two hands(dwibhuja); in one hand, she pierces the chest of Mahishasura with a spear and in the other, she pulls the tail of the Mahishasura.
The Durga idol stands on a lion in one leg and other leg is on Mahishasura’s chest. The Mahishasura is depicted as a buffalo, not as regular human demon. The crown of Devi has symbol of Ganesha, crescent moon and a Shiva linga. The temple covers a large area, and it has several Shiva lingas and other deities.
According to the Skanda Purana, Utkala Khanda, the Biraja Kshetra washes all sins of the pilgrims. Since Devi Durga is the presiding deity, the temple observes the annual Rath yatra during the Durga Puja, said temple managing committee president Debi Prasad Pani.