Mahishasura, the buffalo-hybrid demon, defeated the Devas (deities of the Hindu pantheon) after pleasing Lord Brahma by his austerity. To re-establish dharma (righteousness) Goddess Durga appeared and slayed that mighty asura (demon). To commemorate this divine victory the Hindu festival of Dussehra (also spelled Dashahara) is celebrated grandly in the Indian state of Odisha.
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| Durga Puja at Choudhury Bazar | Source: Wikimedia |
Cuttack's Dashahara festival is the most famous one in Odisha. It's celebrated for ten days in the month of Ashvin (7th month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar).
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| Ghata Puja | Source: Pinterest |
The current form of Dashahara has a Bengali influence though this Sharadiya Durga Puja was initiated by King Suratha of Chaitya dynasty in 300 BCE. A Banerjee family started this community festival in 1510 at Binod Bihari. The family came to Cuttack with Sri Chaitanya Dev. For four years it was observed in the form of Ghata Puja - the traditional Odia way of Sharadiya Durga Puja. In 1514 the family introduced the worship of the clay idol of Maa Durga to this 506-year-old festival.
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