Kakatpur: With advent of the festive season Sharadiya Puja (worship of the autumn) has started in various Shakti Peethas. Accordingly, Sodasa Upachar Puja is going on at the famous Maa Mangala Peetha in Kakatpur of Puri district in Odisha.
Servitors are worshiping Maa Mangala at the Kakatpur shrine with special rituals. From Mulastami to Mahastami, the Shodsha Upachar Puja of Maa Mangala will continue for sixteen days. Today is the second day of this puja. Maa Mangala is being worshiped with special rituals during these sixteen days. Devotees are coming from far and wide places to get a glimpse of the Mother Goddess Maa Mangala at Kakatpur.
The rituals of Kakatpur Maa Mangala which is executed during this autumn (sharadiya) of the year is unique. On the Sahasra Kumbhabhishek day, Maa Mangala is given a holy bathe with 108 pitchers of scented water and then performed a special Marjana to Maa. This puja of Maa will continue till Mahastami.
Maa Mangala is worshiped on other days with Pancha Upachar, but during this festive season the Goddess is worshiped with sixteenth Upachars. In this puja, special servitors (Puja Panda) are employed. At this time special pujas like Chandipatha, Singha Puja, Mantrajap, Ghatapuja are started at the shrine.
The Sharadiya Puja of Maa Mangala begins in the month of Ashwin, at this time women in various regions of Odisha worship the Tuesday of Ashwin as Nisha Mangalabar Osha. Many devotees from different regions flock to Kakatpur during this Puja of Maa Mangala. Devotees believe that if you get a glimpse of the mother Goddess at this time, all your wishes will be fulfilled.
