Basantika Durga Puja Underway at Mangala Temple
The three-day Basantika Durga Puja has commenced at the temple of presiding deity Maa Mangala in Kakatpur, Puri district, starting from the Shukla Saptami tithi. On this occasion, the temple trust board has issued a detailed schedule of rituals for the celebration.
Special arrangements have been made at the temple for the smooth conduct of the three-day-long Basantika Durga Puja. As daily rituals of the Goddess are performed from 8 AM to 3 PM, public entry into the temple remains restricted during these hours, as informed by the temple’s Executive Officer Kailash Dash.
Similar to the Shodasha Upachara Puja performed during the Ashwin month, the Basantika Puja is conducted during Chaitra month on the days of Shukla Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami. According to Maa Mangala’s sevayat Tushar Ranjan Dixit, on Saptami, the Goddess appears in her Katyayani form for darshan; on Wednesday, Ashtami, she appears as Simha Vahini (riding a lion), and on Ram Navami, she will appear in her Mahishasura Mardini form.
The Basantika Durga Puja is being performed with deep devotion and faith. Every day, from afternoon until late at night, a large number of devotees gather at the temple for darshan of the deity. The temple administration and local police have ensured tight security arrangements for the event.
The celebration has created a spiritually charged atmosphere throughout the Kakatpur region. Today, Prakash Kumar Panda is serving as the designated sevayat, while Sanjay Dixit is performing as the chief priest. Prakash Kumar Panda is also conducting the Shodasha Upachara rituals of Maa Mangala with utmost devotion.
