Bhubaneswar: The nine-day Navratri festival is being celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm across Odisha. On the seventh day of Navratri, devotees are worshipping Maa Kalaratri, one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Famous Shakti Peethas like Sarala, Cuttack Chandi, and Charchika are witnessing large crowds of devotees.
In Jagatsinghpur district, the Jhankar Basini Maa Sharla temple is also filled with devotees. The Sodasha Upachara Puja, a 16-step worship ritual, is being performed with great devotion. The ancient Patna kingdom’s presiding deity, Devi Pataneswari, is being worshipped in Bolangir.
As part of the celebrations, Puja Mandaps are decorated with fancy lights, and elaborate processions are being held in cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Sasthi Puja and Bilwa Barana rituals will be held at Mandap, marking the beginning of the four-day mega festival. The festivities will culminate with Dussehra celebrations, marking the triumph of good over evil
