BARIPADA: Unlike other parts of the country where Goddess Durga is worshipped during Dussehra, in Baripada town, people worship the ‘Pancha Mukhi’ Hanuman during the puja.This year, they erected a huge mandap where Lord Hanuman was worshiped for five days before being immersed on ‘Dashami’. The puja committee had installed a 10-foot idol. Not only the huge Hanuman, the committee members also worshiped small idols of Lord Rama, Laxman and Sita along with another idol of Hanuman offering prayer to Lord Shiva.Started with a few members, the committee has now swelled to 150. Committee member Vivekananda Mallick said the Mahavir puja is being observed for the last 19 years. “Earlier our elders were observing it and now we are following their footstep. The puja is organised in a grand manner every year,” he said.According to priest Manmath Kumar Pani, Lord Ram had worshiped Goddess Durga for her blessings before killing demon king Ravana and Lord Hanuman had helped Ram during the war. “As Hanuman had a great contribution in Ram’s victory, people here worship his idol instead of Durga,” he said. Though none can exactly point out why this tradition is followed here, but it is done religiously for the last two decades.
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