Odisha Celebrates Diwali-Festival Of Lights

Bhubaneswar: People celebrated Diwali across Odisha with great vigor and gaiety on Sunday. They lit up Diyas (clay oil lamps) and burst crackers to celebrate the festival of lights.

Diwali is celebrated on the day of ‘amavasya’ or new moon in the month of Karthik in Hindu calendar to mark the conquest of truth over ignorance and light over darkness.

Meanwhile, thousands of people from far-off places were seen making a beeline to the Jagannath Temple in Puri and offering tributes and homage to their ancestors since dawn.

It is believed that observing this age-old tradition ritual in Puri on the occasion of Diwali brings peace to the souls of the forefathers and they bless their grandchildren.

The ritual is called Badabadua Daka.

The invocation process involves the chanting of a prayer , ” Badabadua ho andhaare aasa, aalua re jaa (Oh hon’ble ancestors, come in darkness and go back along the lighted path ).

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other political leaders including ministers wished the people of Odisha for a safe and happy Diwali.

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik has created a sand art with a message to soldiers  “Happy Diwali, You are our heroes” during the clean beach festival at Paradip beach.