Cuttack, Oct. 9: Dussehra kicks off next week, but the festive fever has already gripped the city.

Communities have begun celebrating the festival with several people worshipping the local deity, Solapua Maa, in a three-week-long festival known as mini Dussehra in the city. The festival that is quite unique in many ways will conclude next Tuesday.

The Telugu weavers' community first celebrated the festival of Solapua Maa almost 100 years ago as they prayed for a cure from an epidemic of infectious diseases during autumn. The Goddess was summoned during this period to prevent and relieve people from the grip of diseases such as diarrhoea and measles. Worshippers smear the idol with turmeric and wrapped the deity with wild flowers and nimdala or neem leaves. The tradition of encircling the city and going on processions around the city in three phases began at that time.

"Turmeric and neem have medicinal benefits that purify the air wherever the idol is taken. We also carry the smoke of natural elements during our procession that help to cleanse the surroundings," said Rama Rao, a festival organiser.

Each phase of the festival begins on Sundays from the Mahanadi river, where the Goddess is invoked and then carried around certain areas of the city. The procession makes several halts along the journey, which are organised by the local Telugu communities. The procession culminates at the temple of Sonapua Maa at College Square after conclusion of each of three phases.

While the first phase covered areas, including Odia Bazar, Sutahat, Baunsa Gali, Jhulan Sahi and surrounding areas, the ongoing second phase covers 12 sahis around Ranihat. In the last phase, the procession will be taken along Pattapole, Baropathar Road, Buxi Bazar from Sunday, camping there for two days.

The festival attracts people from all communities, who offer fruits to the deity for the well being of their family members. Devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Bengal, too, visit the city to pray to the deity at the campsites during the processions.

"For us, this is a form of Dussehra wherein the Goddess is worshipped for blessings just before Navratri sets in," said Rabindra Sahoo, a grocery store owner at Buxi Bazar.