Cuttack Durga puja 2016 on Sasthi

BY Mrudu malay Mohapatra

The celebration has already begun in the silver city of India.Durga Puja in the millenium city is unique in more ways than one.While the neighbouring State of West Bengal hosts the autumn festival with theme-based pandals and idols,Cuttack decorates the Mother Goddess with gold and silver.The extravagance can be witnessed in 150-odd Puja Pandals across the city.While the elite puja committees go for gold jewellery and silver backdrops spending several crores of rupees, their smaller cousins opt for just silver.

There are about 21 puja committees (+1 this Year) in the city who have silver backdrops and about six puja pandals where the deities are adorned with gold crowns and jewellery.The history of Durga puja at Cuttack dates back to several centuries.According to ancestors , Saint Chaitanya Dev started worshipping the deity during his visit between 1512 and 1517 AD. During his stay at Gadagadia Ghat in Cuttack, he started Durga Puja at Balu Bazaar. Even at Balu Bazaar, a 30-ft-high silver tableau adorns the pandal and the idol here is painted with only organic colours.

Here we bring you the very first update of Cuttack Durga Puja on the holy day of Sasthi from different Puja mandaps.