Unique celebrations in J’singhpur

It’s a mammoth gathering at Madanmohan temple at Kulakaijanga village under Biridi block here. The special attraction here is the Binsabhuja (20-hand) Goddess Durga idol.

According to scriptures, after Goddess Durga killed all the demons and evil forces, 20 devotees approached her to fulfil their wishes. She then took the form of Binsabhuja to grant them their wishes. Her 20 hands have ‘Baraja’, ‘Chandra’, ‘Chakra’, ‘Dhanu’, ‘Gada’, ‘Pasa’, ‘Ankush’, a snake, ‘Abhya’ on the right side and ‘Dhal’, ‘Sankha’, ‘Padama’, ‘Veena’, ‘Jambur’, ‘Trisul’, ‘Parsu’, an arrow and ‘Kamandali’ on the left.

President of the Nikhala Utkal Matha Mandiradhisa Seva Sangh, Swami Arupananda,  also the owner of Madanmohan temple, said the deity is worshipped as per Vaishnav culture.

Sarala temple draws crowds

Like Kulakaijanga village, the Sarala temple in Kanakapur is also abuzz with activity as thousands of devotees are thronging the temple to witness the ‘Danda Yatra’ and ‘Suna Besha’ of the presiding deity, Goddess Sarala. This Sarala peetha is considered as one of the oldest Shakti peethas in the State.

According to historians, the idol of Astabhuja Devi Sarala was installed in this temple in the 7th century. Of the eight hands, the Goddess holds hair of Mahisasura, Trishuk, Khadaga, Padama, Chakra and a sword in six hands and scriptures in the other two. Due to this, Devi Sarala is not only worshipped as Devi Durga but also as Devi Saraswati.

As per the rituals, ‘Sudasa Puja’, ‘Chandi Patha’ and ‘Ahuti’ are performed daily during Durga Puja in the temple. After these rituals, Goddess Sarala is taken out in her ‘bimana’ to tour the entire area,  known as Danda Yatra.

The Goddess adorns ‘Suna Vesha’ during Saptami, Asthami and Nabami. Danda Yatra and Suna Besha are the main attractions of the temple.