Maa Biraja Rath Yatra
Odisha hosts a unique chariot festival dedicated not to Lord Jagannath, but to a Shakti goddess – Maa Biraja. This rare and divine tradition unfolds every year in Jajpur, coinciding with Navratri.
The sacred Vijaya Rath Yatra began this Tuesday and will continue for nine auspicious days. Each evening at 4 PM, devotees gather in devotion to pull the magnificent Singhadwaja chariot, carrying Maa Biraja in all her splendor.
The Navratri rituals commenced on Monday, and by night, the Yatra ceremonies had begun. On the ninth day, the celebration reaches its peak with Aparajita Puja, where Maa Biraja symbolically slays the demon Mahishasura, embodying the eternal triumph of good over evil. The festival concludes with the sacred Nabapada Darshan ritual.
The Biraja Temple, built in the 13th century by King Chandihar Jajati II, is a revered Shakti Peetha, believed to mark the spot where Sati’s navel fell. Here, Maa Biraja is worshipped as a powerful incarnation of Devi Durga, and this annual Rath Yatra stands as a living testimony to Odisha’s deep spiritual heritage.