Dhanadaatri Puja Celebrated with Grandeur in Jiunti Village
Kakatpur, Date 30/10:
On Saturday, the village of Jiunti under Astarang block observed the sacred occasion of Ashwina month’s Shukla Paksha Purnima. On this holy day, the worship of Goddess Dhanadaatri Ma Gajalakshmi was conducted with great devotion and splendor, drawing participation from both village and city residents. The entire Jiunti village was filled with enthusiasm and joy. Ma Gajalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and abundance, was revered and honored.
In Jiunti’s Purbasahi area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Astarang block in Puri district, the community celebration of Ma Gajalakshmi Puja has been conducted with unwavering devotion and sincerity for the past 12 years. On this special morning, devoted women carrying sacred pots (kalasha) walked to the nearby Ukulei Ghat. There, rituals including Varuna Puja, Ganapati Puja, and the ceremonial bringing of the kalasha were performed.
Devotees carried pots on their heads and walked in procession to the puja mandap (ceremonial stage) to the accompaniment of traditional instruments like bells, huluhuli (ritual sound), conch shells, and drums. At the mandap, the priest bathed the idol of the goddess and performed the prana pratishtha (invocation of life into the idol) to begin the worship rituals.
The puja commenced with the worship of the Ashtadasha Matrika (eighteen mother goddesses), followed by Surya Puja (sun worship), Ganapati Puja, Vardhani Kalasha Puja, Kubera Puja, Shodasha Upachara Puja (sixteen-step worship), and the worship of the Navagraha (nine celestial deities) and Dashadikpalas (guardians of the ten directions). Tapan Kumar Khandual performed the role of the main priest for the puja.
Following the rituals, a sacred homa (fire ceremony) was conducted. After 4 PM, due to an impending lunar eclipse, devotees arrived early to complete their puja offerings.
Young women from the locality—including Seema, Soni, Chunu, Barsha, Kajal, Uru, Baby, Mama, Dipi, and Lanu—actively assisted in organizing and managing the event. The entire region was enveloped in a deeply devotional atmosphere.
