The immersion festivity of Durga idols in Rajnagar block in Kendrapada district bears uniqueness in the country in view of its boating procession.
locals and puja organisers carry the idols in boats amidst playing traditional musicical instruments before immersing them in Hansua river. The procession is taken out to pay respect to the royal family members of Kanika, who had started the tradition nearly a century back.
According to Rajnagar PS IIC Biranchi Bag, a total of 16 puja pandals were erected in the Rajnagar bazaar this year. Four of these participated in the boating procession.
“The then King of Kanika, Bhujabala Bhanjadeo had started worshipping Durga idol about two centuries back at Rajnagar in order to protect the area from nature’s fury and epidemic. After worshipping the idol from Mahashtami to Dussehra, the King used to conduct a boating procession with the idol in Hansua river immersion. Since then, it has been a tradition,” said Siba Prasad Sahu, a member of the Bana Durga Puja Committee.
Thanapati Medha, started by the king and three others Maa Sarala, Ganga Mata and Bana Durga medhas are now participating in the boating procession, informed Jagannath Das, an intellectual person.
Adequate police arrangements were made on Sunday to make the immersion incident-free. Fire tender personnel, forest personnel, divers and fishermen were also deployed.
Thousands of locals stood on two sides of the river bank to witness the boating of the idols. No mishap or untoward incidents were reported, said IIC Bag.