At this time is ‘Durga Ashtami’, the eighth day of the nine-day-long Navaratri. Devotees chopping throughout all age teams have began thronging mandaps throughout the State to supply prayer to Goddess Durga on this auspicious day.
Within the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, ‘Maha Ashtami’ is being celebrated with conventional pomp and dazzle. Mandaps at Alisha Bazaar, Choudhury Bazaar, Balu Bazaar, Chandini Chowk, School Sq., Sheikh Bazaar and different locations in Cuttack and at Saheed Nagar, Jharpada, Rasulgarh, Station Bazaar, Baramunda, Patia and different locations in Bhubaneswar began witnessing giant footfall from the morning itself.
Clad in new sarees, girls who’re observing ‘Vrat’ on ‘Maha Ashtami’ are thronging the mandaps to carry out particular puja.
‘Maha Ashtami’ rituals start with the completion of ‘Pushpanjali’, adopted by ‘Bhrungari Snana’, ‘Astha Kumbha Snana’ and ‘Sodasa Upachara Puja’.
The principle puja will begin at midday when Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartika, Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Saraswati and demon king Mahisasura are worshipped. One other important ritual is providing puja to the Lion, the automobile of Maa Durga.
In addition to ‘Ashtami Puja’, different rituals carried out on the event of Maha Ashtami are ‘Maha Alati’, ‘Yagna’ and ‘Ahuti’ and most significantly ‘Sandhi Puja.
Sandhi Puja is noticed on the juncture or sandhi of the eighth and ninth lunar days.
