8 unique facts about Diwali celebration in Odisha
Diwali or Deepavali, The festival of lights is celebrated with lighting of small clay lamps and bursting various kinds of crackers. The festival signifies the triumph of good over evil.
These lamps are kept on during the night & house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Laxmi feel welcome. It is believed that the bursting of Firecrackers drives away the evil spirit.
1. Hati Ghoda Mithai (Sweets of different animal shape) – A special kind of sweets made of sugar available in different colours with shapes of various animals like Tiger, Lion, Elephant, Horse and many more.
2. Bada Badua Daka (Offering Puja to Late ancestors): A unique ritualistic ceremony to remember and pray our Late ancestors on the eve of Diwali.
3. Goddess Kali Puja: Kali Puja is one of the major festivals of Odisha. The festival is celebrated in various cities of the state.
4. Cuttack Kali Puja: The Kali Puja here is over 150-years-old. Just a fortnight after Durga Puja, the city braces up for Kali Puja that coincides with Diwali, a celebration of the victory of good over evil. If you like to watch immersion processions, then you must visit Cuttack during Kali Puja immersion to witness the long processions.
5. Chinna Mastaka Kali at Bhakrabad, Cuttack: The only puja committee that worships the ‘Chhinamasta’ form of the deity is the Bakhrabad Kali Puja Committee. Here, the deity holds her own severed head in one hand and a scimitar in another.
6. Chandi Medha at Cuttack Kali Puja: Unlike Cuttack Durga Puja, about 20 Chandi Medha’s are installed in different puja mandaps across the city.
7. Bhadrak Kali Puja: In Bhadrak, Kali Puja is celebrated in a grand way owing to the presence of Bhadrakali temple. Like Durga Puja in Cuttack, Kali Puja in this coastal town is a week-long affair that is witnessed by lakhs of people.
While a large number of devotees throng the Bhadrakali village, on the outskirts of Bhadrak town, several glittering pandals are erected in Charampa area to house the deity.
8. Bada badua Daka at grand road Puri: Puri , the land of Lord Jagannath witnesses a grand gathering on the day of Diwali. People from different parts of the state come here to observe ‘Badabadua Daka’.In the unique ritual, people gather outside the 12th century Jagannath temple and burn jute sticks (known as Kaunriya Kathi in local parlance) inviting their ancestors to descend from heaven on Diwali and bless them. The burning of jute sticks is accompanied by a prayer ‘Badabadua Ho Andhaare Aasa, Aalua Re Jao (Ancestors, come in darkness and go back along the lighted path). With thousands of bundles of jute sticks being lighted on the day, the Grand Road in front of the Jagannath temple offers a beautiful spectacle.
Also Read: Do & Don’t in Diwali
