Baripada: The Durga Puja at Murgabadi here in Mayurbhanj district entered its 38th year this year. A unique feature here is that the organisers offer dahi pakhala and fried fish to the deity during the festivity.
Now, the preparation for the puja is in full swing. In view of its decorative style of welcome gate, pandal and cultural programmes, the Murgabadi puja mandap continues to have its unique identity. Another attraction of the puja is women play Sindura Khella (vermilion game).
The organisers specially worship Goddess Durga with yoghurt and watered rice and fried fish. This tradition has been 37 years old. The pandal draws a huge crowd during the puja.
It was in 1980 when locals Sanjit Kumar Panda, late Bankesh Kumar Das, late Ratnakar Gochhayata, Nishakar Behera and late Sridhar Behera started Durga Puja here in a humble way.
The organisers had spent Rs 3,500 for the first puja. Now, the puja budget has touched Rs 4 lakh. Of it, Rs 1.10 lakh was allocated for welcome gate and Rs 40,000 for the earthen image of the Goddess. As part of rituals, the Goddess is offered Agnibhoga on the day of Astami.
On the tenth day, the Goddess is offered dahi pakhala, fried Gadisha fish, fried greens, badi chura and roasted lady’s fingers and ridge gourds. Devotees take them as ‘prasad’ after the puja. The puja committee lays more focus on prasad for devotees than on cultural programmes. This year, a devotee has promised to offer a silver tiara for the Goddess.
“Unlike other puja committees, we spend more on prasad for devotees rather than spending lakhs on decoration and glitz,” said the organisers.
PNN
