Sambalpur: Amid Covid protocols, the Sodasa puja of Maa Samaleswari in Sambalpur started in accordance with age-old rituals and traditions Wednesday, while the Dhabalmukhi Besa of the Goddess will be solemnised October 6.
Pratah alati along with special puja was offered to the Goddess on the occasion of Aswina Krushna Pakhya Mulastami Tithi.
After Sandhya alati, the Goddess was offered kakara pitha (a kind of fried cake prepared with pure ghee). Devotees had darshan of the Goddess till 7 pm. As per Covid protocols, the doors of the temple were closed thereafter.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the shrine missed all the hustle and bustle of the celebrations. During Sodasa puja, 16 earthen lamps were ignited at the shrine.
From Mulastami Tithi to Mahalaya, Sodasa puja is performed. During this period, Goddess Samaleswari is worshipped as Durga, Narayani, Isani, Bishnumaya, Shiva, Sati, Nitya, Bhagabati, Sarbani, Sarbamangala, Ambika, Baishnabi, Gouri, Parbati and Sanatani.
According to historians, Sodasa puja for the Goddess was initiated during the rule of king Balaramdev of Chouhan dynasty. The king used to fast during the puja.
Usually, the temple witnesses thousands of devotees who throng the shrine to have a glimpse of the Dhabalamukhi Besa of Goddess Samaleswari on Mahalaya.
On the occasion, Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, dons a white attire unlike the rest of the year when She is adorned with red costume.
The deity is decked up in the Dhabalamukhi Besa for two and a half days and during the period the priests also perform the rituals in white costumes. Preparations for the Dhabalamukhi Besa start in the night.
It takes around four hours to deck up the deity in complete white attire. The rituals start from afternoon and the Goddess is offered the special bhog of ‘mooga bara’ made on the day of Mahalaya.
The rituals continue till the offering of the anna bhog.
PNN