Bhubaneswar: Kali Puja is being celebrated with much fanfare, devotion and enthusiasm in different parts of Odisha. Like Dussehra, Kali Puja is also celebrated in a grand way in the state.
Places like Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak and Jajpur are all decked up to worship Goddess Kali with grandeur. In the millennium city of Cuttack, over 75 puja committees have set up pandals with idols of Goddess Kali. At least 32 pandals have been decorated with silver and the budget for the puja varies from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
The idol worshipped at Bakhrabad Loka Mandala Puja Committee is unique. It is called ‘Chhinnamasta; or Headless Goddess, depicting the Goddess holding her severed head in one hand with blood flowing out of her neck.
The police have made elaborate arrangements to ensure law and order during the festival. As many as 50 platoons of police force have been deployed at different places for the festival and special squads formed to check untoward incidents during the celebration of Diwali, a senior police official said.
In Bhadrak, Maa Bhadrakali is adorned as Mahakali during darshan for devotees during the festival. A large number of devotees from different parts of the state throng the Bhadrakali shrine to get darshan of the deity dressed in a red Pata sari in the morning.
Though Maa Bhadrakali presents a calm face, the Mahakali Besha gives an aggressive look to her.
A seven-day-long Saptamatruka Biswashanti Mahajagnya is held on the occasion of Kali Puja at the temple at Aaharapada. During the seven days, the deity is adorned in different dresses each day (Saptamatruka Besha).
On the other days, the goddess is dressed in Rajarajeswari Besha, Singhabahini Besha, Jagadhatri Besha, Maha Saraswati Besha and Maha Laxmi Besha.
In state capital Bhubaneswar, all the preparations have been done at Satyakali Temple in Satya Nagar area here. In the temple, people can get darshan of Maa Kali in 10 different Beshas.
The Maa will be adorned with Mahakali, Tara, Shodhasi, Bhubaneswari, Bhairabi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumabati, Bagala, Matangi, and Kamala Beshas.
Mahakali Puja is also being held at Dakhinakali Peetha at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar. Shyamakali Puja, Bhajan Samaroha and dance performance willl be held. A Biswasanti Mahajangya will also be held.
People can get darshan of Maa Kali at Saheed Nagar with a Chandi Medha (silver backdrop). Cultural function and Meena Bazaar will also be held at Saheed Nagar.
Like other places, Jajpur town is also geared up to celebrate Kali Puja with public participation. One of the Shakti Peethas in the state, Jajpur is known for grand celebration of Kali Puja for a long time. Like Dussehra in Cuttack, Goddess Kali is worshipped in majestic pandals decorated in all grandeurs.
All preparations are complete at around 45 pandals where community puja is celebrated in the town this year. Several pandals are decorated with silver tableaus.
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