Bel Puja Vidhan, an important ritual of Bastar Dussehra was performed by Bastar royal scion Kamal Chandra Bhanj Deo with traditional fervour at village Sargipal, located in the vicinity of the divisional headquarters Jagdalpu on Friday.
As per the tradition, a twin Bel fruit was installed at Danteshwari Temple after bringing it from the village. Notably, Bel Puja Vidhan is an important ritual of the Bastar Dussehra which is completed at village Sargipal. This ritual is performed after completion of five days of Phool rath Yatra or the night of Shashti tithi. For this, after return of the Phool Rath to Danteshwari temple, the temple priest, Manjhi, Mukhia and others go to village Sargipal and formally invite the Bel tree for participation in Dussehra.
They also detect twin Bel fruits. On the next day, members of Royal family, Mukhia, Manjhi and large number of public reach the boundary of the village in colourful procession where they are welcomed by residents of Sargipal village and then they are taken to the identified Bel tree. Near the Bel tree puja is performed and after performing several religious rituals the identified twin Bel fruits are taken off the Bel tree. Villagers then send off the Royal entourage and the twin fruit as if they are sending their daughter to her in-laws house.
This ritual is performed on ‘Saptami’ day of Navratri. Village Sargipal is famous for its Bel trees. Also twin Bel fruits are found in abundance where as in other parts of the state twin Bel fruits are generally not seen. After bringing the twin Bel fruits from sargipal, they are installed in Danteshwari Mandir reverently and worshipped till completion of Dussehra.