TNI Bureau: Devotees of all ages thronged the Durga Puja pandals on Vijaya Dashami, the last day of the Dussehra festival.
Dressed in their festive best, the devotees rushed to the pandals to offer prayers and make offerings to Maa Durga, who defeated the demon Mahishasura.
Some devotees even keep fast while others abstain from nonveg and pray incessantly to get the blessings from Maa Durga.
Nayapalli, Saheed Nagar Bomikhal, and Rasulgarh are some of many Puja pandals that attracted the maximum crowd.
In the evening, the effigies of demon king Ravan will be burnt to mark win of good over evil.
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This year, the Ravana Podi shall take place in seven places of Bhubaneswar like Jharpada, Baramunda, Naharkanta, Korada Khanta and Tamando.
In Cuttack, where the festival celebrated amid great pump and gaitey, also witnessed huge crowd on the last day of the festival.
The Commissionerate Polic has beefed up security in the twin cities for the celebrations with special emphasis on traffic arrangements and CCTV surveillance in and around the pandals.
Significance of Vijaya Dashami:
- The term Vijaya Dashami originates from the combination of two words – Vijaya (denoting victory in Sanskrit) and Dashami (meaning the 10th day of the lunar calendar).
- Vijaya Dashami signifies the day when Goddess Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura.
- Vijaya Dashami is also the last day of Durga Puja, which marks the annual visit of Goddess Durga to her father’s place with her children. On Dashami, she returns home to her husband, Lord Shiva.
- Vijaya Dashami also marks a shift in season. After summer and monsoons, it marks the onset of winter. Farmers also harvest the Kharif crop after Dussehra.
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