The famous Danda Yatra of Ganjam is considered to be the most ancient and traditional form of worship. Galleri and Baibelli villages of Ghumsar in Ganjam district are said to have been the original places of the Danda Yatra.
It is a ritual performance held usually in the month Chaitra for 13 to 21Rs days. The participants of Danda Nata are usually called Dandua and the chief of the show is known as Pata Dandua, who moves from village to village to perform the Yatra.
The ritual is dedicated to lord Siva and Goddess Kali, which is represented by a Danda (stick) or a pole decorated with different coloured clothes. The Danduas perform Pani Danda, Agni Danda and Dhuli Danda with Dhola Badya (the significant instrument of the Yatra) which are the main attractions of the performance. The closing ceremony is known as Meru Yatra, which is observed on the day of Maha Vishuba Sankranti of Chaitra.
The famous Danda Yatra (of Jamuni-A Group), which was held at the Gandhinagar Square on Friday, attracted thousands of devotees.
This Yatra has been conducted at the Gandhinagar Square since 28 years and patronised through voluntary subscriptions paid by local residents and devotees, said a key organiser and a member of the Puja Committee, Kishore Chandra Panda.
In addition to the Yatra conducted by collective efforts of various Puja Committees in the town, a large of number individual families and devotees after fulfilment of their Manaskamana (prayer to deity Kali to fulfil their preordained desire) also organise Danda Yatra in the town as well as in different parts of Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
The members who coordinated the Yatra at the Gandhinagar Square included Deba, Rajani, Rama and N Rajendra Kumar.