Umerkote , 26th Sept 2025: Navratri celebrations have begun at the historic Podagada shrine, located under Bhandariguda Gram Panchayat in Umerkote block. Worship is being held at all the sacred temples in the area.
As part of the celebrations:
At Baba Bhairava Temple, Goddess Danteshwari is being worshipped
At Chauniya Temple, Goddess Paatarani
At Bhanga Ram Temple, Goddess Durga Kankalini
At Uparagada, the royal family’s presiding deity Gadi Maa and Goddess Mangala are being worshipped with continuous (Akhanda) oil lamps being lit.
The symbolic representations (vimaans and thrones) of Goddess Danteshwari and Goddess Khambeshwari of Podagada are currently kept at the residence of Kailash Behera in Guli Patana, Umerkote. Devotees have lit eternal lamps (Akhanda Deepa) in reverence there as well.
At Bhairava Temple, the rituals are being led by Pujari Durgamandir, and at Durga Temple, Pujari Binjal, Rii, Pund, and Narayan have taken religious vows (vrata). Meanwhile, at Gadi Maa Temple and Mangala Temple, Pujari Krishna is leading the rituals, and hundreds of village women have carried Kalasha (sacred pots) in a traditional procession.
Each temple has seen the installation of Kalashas, creating a spiritually uplifting and devotional atmosphere.
The Navratri festival will continue for 9 days, drawing participation from local villagers as well as devotees and observers from neighboring Chhattisgarh.
It is expected that Dussehra will be celebrated on October 2, with the symbolic participation of ritual staffs (lathi-kurti) from 93 villages, followed by a traditional folk drama (Desia Natak) to be performed at night as part of the Dussehra celebrations.