Gosani idol at a mandap in Puri. Picture by Sarat Patra

Puri, Oct. 15: The tradition of worshipping Goddess Durga during Dussehra is unique in Puri.

Every year, various sahis or streets across the city observe Gosani yatra, a different form of Durga Puja.

In this festival, Goddess Durga is called as Gosani.

The deity is worshipped in the form of big clay idols sporting special decoration and postures. The figure of Gosani is plump and has fierce expressions. The idols portray the battle between Goddess Durga and demon Mahisasura. The demon is mostly depicted in the form of half buffalo and half man with the head of an animal. The goddess looks full of vigour and rage. While the idol of Gosani is coloured yellow, that of the demon is coloured either blue or green.

“Gosani yatra is an ancient tradition that is believed to have been initiated by the first Ganga king Choda Ganga Deva. He installed the shakti puja or ishana puja following instruction of his tantric guru Nitei Dhobini,” said Jagannath culture scholar Pandit Surya Narayan Rathsharma.

“It began with symbolic worship and people started worshipping different forms of the goddess. Accordingly, deities worshipped throughout the city have different postures and looks. They have different names as well,” he said.

The clay idols of Durga, decorated with sola and zari, are named Kakudikhai, Barabati, Janhimunda, Gelabai, Sunya Gosani and so on. Each deity has special weapons and accessories. Clay idols of sampati bird, monkeys, demons, ghosts, wooden toys are placed around the goddess. Local people make rounds of the city watching different mandaps.

“Gosani Puja is a special occasion for us. It gives us an occasion to worship Goddess Shakti in different forms,” said Akshay Mohapatra, a corporate employee. “We offer coconut and various fruits to Gosani and seek her blessings,” says homemaker Runu Tripathy.