Bhubaneswar: In the quaint town of Banapur, Khurdha, Durga Puja is celebrated with a unique twist. The town’s presiding deity, Goddess Maa Bhagabaati, is worshipped along with seven other goddesses, known as the Saptamatru Shakti or the Seven Sisters.
This distinctive celebration, which begins with Maha Bisuba Sankranti and culminates with Kumar Purnima of the Ashwina month, showcases the rich cultural heritage of the region.
The festivities commence with Maa Bhagavati inviting her seven sisters to join the celebration. Each sister, worshipped at different locations, accepts the invitation and joins the festival on specific days. The inner festival of Maa Bhagwati concludes after Bheta Amavasya, while the outer festival of Navaratra begins. The Goddess is then worshipped in the “Sata Bakhara Gruha” (Special seven temples) with her seven sisters.
The Sata Bakhara gruha is a special temple dedicated to the worship of the Seven Sisters. During the nine-day festival, the goddesses are served daily by servitors, and on the third tithi of the Shuklapaksha, they are adorned in the said room. A unique aspect of the celebration is the procession of Maa Kanaka Durga, followed by the preparation of special Prasad, which includes non-vegetarian dishes like fish, rice, curd rice, and kheer.
This distinctive celebration is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Banapur and the devotion of its people. The town’s unique approach to Durga Puja, which brings together eight goddesses in a single celebration, is a rare sight to behold. As the festivities come to a close, the people of Banapur bid farewell to the Goddess, eagerly awaiting her return next year.
