Rajnagar: Rich in tradition and cultural heritage, the 300-year-old Maa Jayadurga Puja in Rajnagar block of Kendrapada district is distinguished by its age-old rituals and distinctive customs.
The annual puja is believed to have originated during the reign of Kanika king Dibyasingha Bhanja, who established the worship of Goddess Durga at Rajnagar, then a prominent trading centre, and introduced the associated rituals and festivities.
The king later entrusted the responsibility of conducting the puja to Pandit Somanath Mishra, who had arrived from Panchatirtha.
The tradition was subsequently carried forward by his descendants and local devotees. Later Kanika rulers, including Rajendra Narayan Bhanja Deo and Shailendra Narayan Bhanja Deo, also extended their support, helping the annual celebration flourish over generations.
The puja has undergone changes over the years. Buffalo sacrifice, once performed at midnight on Maha Ashtami, was discontinued following opposition to the practice.
A water gourd is now offered symbolically in its place, reflecting the evolution of the ritual.
Eleven priests participate in the annual ceremonies, performing the prescribed rites from Bilwabarana to the Goddess’s ceremonial farewell.
The clay idol of Maa Jayadurga is another distinctive feature of the puja. Noted Puranic scholar Pandit Sarat Chandra Mohapatra has described the idol’s form as rare in the state in his writings and compilations.
The Goddess is worshipped beneath a three-tiered decorative structure at the puja mandap.
One of the most distinctive features of the celebration is the immersion ceremony in the perennial Hansabati river, which flows near Rajnagar village.
The ritual is notable for its ceremonial boat procession and the traditional manner in which the Goddess is bid farewell.
The idol is placed on a decorated boat, which makes seven rounds amid the river currents before the immersion takes place.
The spectacle draws thousands of devotees from different parts of Kendrapada district, who gather along both banks of the river to witness the ritual.
Amid chants of Haribol and the traditional ululation of women, devotees bid an emotional farewell to the Goddess.
The sight of worshippers offering tearful goodbyes lends a poignant conclusion to the annual celebration.
Through its enduring rituals, distinctive idol and unusual immersion ceremony, the Maa Jayadurga Puja continues to preserve a centuries-old tradition deeply rooted in the religious and cultural life of Rajnagar.