Asika, Oct 22 [UDN}: (Shiva Shankar Mishra): The annual Sharadiya Durga Puja was celebrated with great devotion, enthusiasm and religious fervour in Kalashandhapur village under Kalashandhapur Gram Panchayat in Asika block of Ganjam district. The village witnessed a large gathering of devotees who thronged the beautifully decorated puja mandap to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga, the divine mother and destroyer of evil.
The Sharadiya Durga Puja is observed from the seventh day (Saptami) to the tenth day (Dashami) of the auspicious festival, when Goddess Durga is worshipped with traditional rituals and prayers. The culturally rich and historically significant region of Kalashandhapur was immersed in a festive atmosphere as residents came together to celebrate the occasion with deep faith and devotion.
The festive spirit was evident throughout the village, with families welcoming relatives and guests into their homes. Local markets remained crowded, particularly clothing and saree shops, as well as flower and fruit stalls, which witnessed increased activity during the celebrations. The entire locality wore a vibrant and colourful look, reflecting the enthusiasm of the people for the annual festival.
As Sunday marked Maha Ashtami, a large number of devotees gathered at the puja mandap to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Goddess Durga, who is revered as Durgatinashini, the remover of suffering and destroyer of evil. Devotees participated in the religious rituals with devotion, creating a spiritually uplifting atmosphere throughout the area.
The sacred surroundings resonated with the chanting of Vedic mantras by Pandit Akshaya Kumar Kar, accompanied by his associates, Shiv Prasad Sarangi and Durga Prasad Nanda. Their traditional recitations added religious solemnity to the celebrations. The puja mandap was beautifully decorated and illuminated with colourful lights, enhancing the festive ambience and attracting visitors from the surrounding areas.
Chandan Swain and his wife, Madhusmita Swain, served as the chief organisers and ritual sponsors, carrying out their responsibilities with dedication and sincerity.
Several local residents actively contributed to the successful organisation of the festival. Among them were Shibaram Pradhan, Santosh Nahak, Lambodar Biswal, Bhagaban Raut, Yogil Nahak, Mangulu Lenka, Bhaskar Biswal, Pradeep Kumar Panda, Upendra Bhanja, Gobinda Nath Swain, Tukuna Nahak, Gadadhar Swain and Sunil Kumar Swain, along with other villagers of Kalashandhapur.
The collective participation of the villagers, the elaborate decorations, the traditional religious ceremonies and the enthusiastic presence of devotees made the Sharadiya Durga Puja a memorable occasion, reflecting the community’s enduring faith, cultural heritage and spirit of unity.
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