Shodasa Upachara puja of Maa Cuttack Chandi and Maa Biraja Jajpur begins today that is on September 3 (Saturday). The puja began on the occasion of holy Mulashtami.
The Shodasha Upachara Puja has been started at the revered Shakti Peethas of Maa Cuttack Chandi and Maa Gadachandi in Cuttack
Maa Cuttack Chandi
Today marks the Mulastami tithi of the holy month of Ashwin according to the Hindu almanac. It is the first day of the Sodasa Upachar Puja of Durga Puja.
The presiding goddess of Cuttack, Maa Cuttack Chandi’s Sodasa Upachar rituals is underway. The Sodasa Upachar Puja begins by pratishtha of the mother.
All the rituals will be performed for Maa Cuttack Chandi. For this, all kinds of arrangements have been made. After the pratistha of the Maa today, various Veshas of the mother will be held which will bring the influx of devotees.
Maa Cuttack Chandi will be adorned with Suna Besha and the devotees will flock the temple to seek darshan of the heavenly avatar.
Along with this, Maa Cuttack Chandi will also be adorned the Maa Bhubaneswari Besha, Ugratara Besha, Siddhaswari Besha, Narayani Besha, Matangi Besha. A crowd of devotees is expected to throng to the Cuttack Chandi’s temple to witness the Veshas.
Maa Biraja Jajpur
According to tradition, after collecting wood for building the chariot in Sunia and holding a Banjag Yatra for Bilva Varuna Puja, the construction of the Goddesses’ Singha Dhawja Rath has begun.
The construction of the Rath is underway by Maharana Sevayats. On the other hand, there is a special tradition of offering Pindaan to ancestors for 15 days from Pratipada to Mahalaya. It is believed that by offering Pindaan at this place helps the ancestors attain salvation.
For this, a crowd of devotees can be seen at the Navigaya near the presiding deity of Goddess Maa Birja, the presiding deity of Jajpur.
Devotees from the state and outside the state are offering Pindaan to their ancestors in Navigaya. Temple administrator and Deputy Collector Tapas Ranjan Deuri has informed that extensive arrangements have been made by the temple administration for the Sharadiya Durga Puja and Pindaan.
What is Shodasa Upachara Puja
Shodasa Upachara puja is offered in many communities and temples across India. As the phrase suggests, this worship contains sixteen elaborate steps.
Only when all the steps are completed in the right order is the worship is considered to be properly done.
