Bhubaneswar: As festive spirit grips Odisha, the 300-year-old Jayadurga Puja in Rajnagar block of Kendrapada district continues to maintain its age-old rituals and special customs, showcasing rich in tradition and cultural heritage.Believed to have originated during the reign of Kanika king Dibyasingha Bhanja, the annual festival is celebrated with enthusiasm. The then king is stated to have initiated the worship of Goddess Durga at Rajnagar, which was a prominent trading centre at that time. The associated rituals and festivities were introduced by him.Subsequently, the king later entrusted the responsibility of conducting the puja to Pandit Somanath Mishra, who had arrived from Panchatirtha.
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