Shyama Kali Puja celebrated at Maa Shyama Kali Temple of Bargarh has much significance. The temple is situated at the heart of the town. The seven-day festival of Maa Shyama Kali Puja begins on the day of Deepavali. Many festivals are organised in the temple round the year but Shyama Kali Puja is important of all. During this time, a large number of devotees visit the temple. Devotees from far off places throng the temple during this festival to seek the blessings of Maa Kali.
The temple has a beautiful architecture. The stone carvings on the temple draw everyone’s attention. Inside the temple, there is an idol of Maa Kali which is made up of ‘Ashtadhaatu’, i.e., alloy consisting of 8 metals.
During Kali Puja, the temple is decked up with spectacular lights and flowers. The air is filled with mantra chantings. Yajnas are performed by priests in the temple. This kind of atmosphere mesmerizes everyone.
On the first day of the festival, ‘Kalash Jatra’ is taken out from the temple to the nearby Jeera river in a grand carnival. Thousands of devotees take part in it. In the cultural procession, troupes belonging to different regions participate to showcase their folk culture.
Another attraction of Shyama Kali Puja is ‘Mahati Bhog’ which is offered to Goddess Kali on the concluding day of the festival. Animal sacrifice is completely banned in this shrine and in its place ‘Mahati Bhog’ is offered to the goddess. ‘Mahati Bhog’ consists of 56 food items.
On the last day of the festival, ‘Brata Dharis’ stand in a long queue near the temple to offer coconuts to the Holy Fire. They break their fast after accepting Prasad.
Keeping in view the number of people visiting the temple during this festival, the police administration makes elaborate security arrangements. Even volunteers co-operate the police in crowd management.
In 2017, the Temple Committee celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Shyama Kali Puja with great religious fervour. The Shyama Kali Puja has a long history. The initiative was taken by some local youth. From 1942-1995, idol made up of clay was worshipped which was immersed after the Puja. Then, in 1996, the ‘Ashtadhaatu’ statue of Goddess Kali was made and ‘Prana Pratistha’ was done in a religious ceremony which was attended by Puri Shankaracharya and Gajapati Maharaj. For many years, the idol was worshipped in a temporary temple. Then, in 2011, a grand temple was established by the Temple Committee under the leadership of Late Sarbeshwar Rath, which has now become a major attraction among the pilgrims.
In the temple premises, there are many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, Lord Jagannath, Lord Shani. Crowd can be witnessed in the temple everyday. Besides Shyama Kali Puja, Navaratri, Shiva Ratri, Sital Sasthi, Ratha Jatra, Janmashtami and many more festivals are celebrated in the temple with great enthusiasm by the devotees.
-Krittika Satpathy