Badagada village Durga Puja Committee to replicate Vrindavan Prem Mandir-style welcome; silver crowns for all deities, four days of melodies major attraction
Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty: The Baragada Village Sarbajanina Durga Puja Committee is gearing up with preparations for its annual Durga Puja festivities.
Started in 1985, the puja is now in its 41st year and continues to be celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Clay idols of Goddess Durga and other deities are being sculpted on site, with artisans crafting the Mahishasuramardini idol and companion deities.
This year, the committee is creating a grand welcome gate near the mandap to draw visitors. Artisans from Salepur in Cuttack district are building the gate, designed as a replica of Vrindavan’s famous Prem Mandir, measuring 60 feet high and 80 feet wide.
The idols will be adorned with silver crowns and ornaments, as in previous years. The main idol will stand 20 feet tall with a 25-feet-high pedestal.
Every evening during the festival, cultural programmes will be performed.
The estimated budget for the puja is Rs 35 lakh, including Rs 10 lakh for the tent, Rs 10.5 lakh for lighting and sound, Rs 6.5 lakh for rituals, and Rs 6.5 lakh for the immersion ceremony. Traditional instruments will be played daily at the mandap.
On Mahashtami, a special Sandhi Puja will be performed, which typically draws more than 1,000 women in traditional sarees and thousands of devotees offering lamps.
Attractive lighting and a large main gate at Badagada village entrance will enhance the festive atmosphere. The main gate is being brought from Cuttack.
Pratap Kumar Jena (President) said, “During Mahashtami’s Sandhi Puja, about 1,000 people are served pana bhoga (offering), and on Navami, prasad is distributed to more than 1,000 devotees. Everyone partakes together, strengthening community bonds. On the occasion, four top-performing students from the village high school will be honoured with certificates and cash awards.”
Ashok Kumar Patra, Secretary shared, “From Saptami to Dashami, four nights of cultural programmes are planned, including a grand ‘Rabana Podi’ (burning of Rabana effigy) on Dashami. This year, artistes such as Arpita Choudhury, Humane Sagar, Ira Mohanty, and Ruku Suna will perform musical shows. The immersion procession will also be held with great pomp and lighting. The entire village square will be decorated with colourful lights. The puja will be conducted as a no-drugs, no-plastic event with eight CCTV cameras and 50 volunteers ensuring safety of visitors.”
