Community puja holds long tradition in Sambalpur
SAMBALPUR: Community puja holds special significance in the City with different committees celebrating Dussera in their own distinctive manner.
The practice of worshipping Goddess Durga during Dussera can be traced back to the middle of 19th century with idols of the Goddess being worshipped in Kumbharpada (presently known as Sansadak) followed by Balibandha, Hatpada and Daleipada.
However, Durga Puja acquired the status of Sarbajanina (community festival) in 1918 when the Bengali community of Sambalpur started worshipping the Goddess at Kalibadi. The Kalibadi Puja Committee still continues to perform the puja in traditional Bengali style.
While the time of immersion varies with other Puja committees of the city, the immersion of the idol at Kalibadi happens on Dasami for the last 98 years.
Similar to Kalibadi, the Puja at Budharaja is also performed in traditional Bengali way where the priest is specially invited from West Bengal. Even the ‘Dhakis’ from Bengal are brought in to play ‘Dhak’ (drums) which is an integral part of Durga Puja. The Sindur Khela is another distinct feature of both Kalibadi and Budharaja Durga Puja, which involves married women applying Sindur (vermilion) on each other and distributing sweets. The Durga Puja at Dhanupali in the city is also known for its unique feature where fish and Kakharu (white pumpkin) are offered to Goddess Durga on the day of Dasami. The Puja Committee of Ambedkar Nagar near Gurudwara in Mudipada stands out among the others as bangles are offered to married women by the organisers.
This apart, residents of Daleipada and Hatpada take out procession wielding traditional weapons on Maha ashtami and congregate at the temple of Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of undivided Sambalpur district and perform Akhada on the temple premises.