Bhubaneswar, Oct. 22: Dussehra in Puri is celebrated following an ancient tradition. Gosani yatra is quite distinctive, right from the idol's form to the participation of the local residents.
The sahis or bylanes witness a rush of devotees of the presiding goddesses of respective areas who are worshipped as gosanis during the Durga Puja. The local goddesses are believed to be different forms of Goddess Durga. Almost all sahis in the city have their presiding goddesses.
The Gosani idols are depicted in a versatile manner and beautifully decorated during the festival.
The idols feature the goddess expressing fury as she gains the upper hand in the battle over Mahisasura - the buffalo demon. Most idols are painted in yellow-while the demon is painted in green or blue.
The presiding deities have been worshipped here since ancient times and have names after plants such as Kakudikhai, Janhikhai, Jani Mundia, Gelabai, Sunya Gosani and Barabati. During the festivities, each deity is decorated with special accessories and weapons and different postures. Clay idols are decorated with attractive backdrops displaying the expertise of local craftsmen in sola and zari. Tiny replicas of animals, birds and toys are present in the backdrop.
"The Gosani yatra is an ancient tradition in Puri and has been observed for centuries in the sahis of the city. It is believed to have been initiated by the first Ganga king Choda Ganga Deva who began the ritual of Shakti Puja or Ishana Puja following instructions of a tantric guru Nitei Dhobini," said Jagannath culture scholar Pandit Surya Narayan Rathsharma.
"Emulating tantric rituals, initially people started praying to different forms of gourds as the goddesses in a symbolic worship. Gradually, the deities were given human form, each with a different posture. The names were given according to the gourd plants they were associated with," he said.
Local residents are involved in the celebrations in their sahis while the entire city is decorated with lights and crafts on the occasion.
"Just like Goddess Durga is worshipped, we show our devotion to the local deities, also a form of Shakti, during the Gosani yatra," said Narendra Sahu, a resident of Bali Sahi.
On the day following Dusherra, the idols will be brought out for a grand procession in the city.