Balangir: Deep inside the Deojhar forest in Odisha’s Balangir district stands an ancient mahua tree that lies at the heart of a centuries-old tradition of faith. Here, a small piece of iron is worshipped as Maa Patakhanda, the presiding deity of Jarasingha village. Rooted in local folklore and passed down through generations, the tradition continues to draw hundreds of devotees seeking blessings and divine intervention.
The festival, celebrated in Jarasingha village under Deogaon block, reflects a rich cultural and spiritual heritage that remains closely connected to the lives, beliefs and customs of the local community. Despite the passage of centuries, devotees continue to observe rituals inherited from their ancestors, preserving a tradition that holds a special place in the region’s religious life.
Unlike conventional temples, the shrine of Maa Patakhanda is located inside the forest, where the goddess is worshipped in the hollow of an ancient mahua tree. There is no conventional idol of the deity. Instead, a small piece of iron, measuring approximately four inches in length and one inch in thickness, serves as her sacred symbol.
For the people of Jarasingha and neighbouring areas, Maa Patakhanda is more than a deity associated with an annual festival. Devotees believe that the goddess listens to their prayers and fulfils their wishes, particularly those seeking relief from difficulties and blessings for their families.
“We have been worshipping Maa Patakhanda since the time of our ancestors, and the tradition has continued through generations. Devotees visit the shrine to seek her blessings, make vows and offer prayers. Many people who face difficulties in having children also come here with faith and hope, believing that the goddess will answer their prayers,” said Ramesh Patra, a devotee.
The rituals associated with the goddess are closely linked to local traditions and the sacred geography of the region. The Sonagada River flows near Jarasingha, with the village settlement on one side and the Deojhar forest stretching across the other. It is within this forest that the distinctive tradition of worshipping Maa Patakhanda has been preserved.
According to local tradition, the annual religious observances begin on Mulashtami. Shodashopachara Puja, which involves 16 traditional forms of worship, is performed from Mahasaptami as part of the festival ceremonies.
A significant element of the tradition is the procession carrying Pata Sindur from Patnagarh to the forest shrine near Jarasingha. The procession is associated with Maa Pataneswari, the presiding deity of Patnagarh, and takes place on Vijayadashami. It serves as an important link between the two places through their shared religious customs.
A Dehuri, or traditional priest, accompanied by other servitors, leads the procession on foot towards the forest shrine. Traditional musical instruments are played as the procession advances, adding to the religious fervour surrounding the observances.
The festival reaches a significant stage on Vijayadashami, when, according to local belief, the goddess manifests herself through a Barua, a ritual medium believed to serve as a channel for communication between the deity and her devotees during religious ceremonies.
Following this ritual manifestation, the sacred symbol of the goddess is worshipped. Traditional animal sacrifices also form part of the age-old observances, reflecting customary practices that have continued across generations.
For devotees, these rituals are not merely ceremonial acts but expressions of an enduring relationship with the goddess. The festival brings together people whose faith is shaped by inherited beliefs, family traditions and collective participation in the annual celebrations.
The worship of Maa Patakhanda also highlights the diversity of religious traditions in western Odisha, where village deities, forest shrines and oral histories continue to play an important role in community life. Such traditions are often preserved through customary rituals and the collective memory of local people rather than through written records alone.
As hundreds of devotees gather to offer prayers during the festival, the forest shrine becomes a focal point of religious and cultural life in Jarasingha. The ancient mahua tree, the sacred iron symbol and the procession from Patnagarh together form the distinctive elements of a tradition that has endured through generations.
