Cuttack's Durga Puja A Dazzling Spectacle of Silver and Centuries-Old Tradition
While the world's gaze often turns to the grand pandals of Kolkata during Durga Puja, a more ancient and uniquely radiant celebration unfolds in the thousand-year-old city of Cuttack. Here, the autumn festival is not a fleeting spectacle of bamboo and cloth, but a breathtaking and enduring exhibition of pure silver. Cuttack's Durga Puja is a dazzling celebration with a "silvery touch," where the city's world-famous filigree artistry, or Tarakasi, takes center stage, creating a sparkling spectacle that draws devotees and art lovers from across the globe.
A Heritage Older Than Kolkata's
Cuttack's legacy of worshipping the clay idol, or MrinmayeeMurti, of Goddess Durga is a heritage that stretches back centuries, long predating the famed celebrations of the 300-year-old city of Kolkata. Historical records trace the tradition to as early as 1514 AD at the BinodBihari - Balubazaar Puja Mandap, in the holy presence of Sri Chaitanya himself. Another landmark was established in 1916 by none other than Subhas Chandra Bose at the DurgabariSamiti. This deep-rooted history is woven into the very fabric of a city affectionately known as "Baban Bazar, TeppanGalee" (the city of 52 markets and 53 streets) and celebrated as "Bhaicharara Sahara" (the city of brotherhood) for its secular and cosmopolitan culture. The festival here is more than a religious event; it is a grand economic and social affair, a multi-crore enterprise that unites communities and showcases the pinnacle of Odia craftsmanship. The celebration's growth has been immense; from just 47 localities in 1947, the number of pujas has now swelled to nearly 200.
The 'ChandiMedha' A Tradition of Silver Splendor
The most distinctive feature of Cuttack's Durga Puja is the 'ChandiMedha'—a massive, intricately crafted silver filigree tableau that serves as the backdrop for the idols. This tradition began in 1956 at the Choudhury Bazar Puja Mandap, which created the first of these majestic silver structures, instantly becoming the centerpiece of the city's celebrations. What started as a single artistic innovation has now blossomed into an "elite club" of 32 different 'ChandiMedhas' across the city, with new ones being added almost every year.
These are not small decorative pieces; they are monumental works of art, standing 20 to 25 feet high and weighing between one to six quintals, all crafted from pure silver. The artisans of Cuttack, renowned for their breathtaking Tarakasi work, spend months meticulously crafting these backdrops. Individual filigree pieces are painstakingly assembled one by one, forming intricate designs that, along with the gold and silver jewelry adorning the deities, create a "sparkling aura" that is unique to the city. While Kolkata is famous for its creative, theme-based pandals, Cuttack's signature is this permanent, dazzling display of silver artistry that reflects a deep investment in cultural heritage.
A Labor of Love and a Call for Recognition
Documenting this unique cultural heritage has been a monumental task, a labor of love captured in the new book "Durga Puja: The Silvery Touch of Cuttack" by former bureaucrat and photographer Raja Parija. The author dedicated six years to the project, a period necessitated by the immense challenge of the work. He highlights the difficulty of photographing the intricate details of the Medhas, a task that could only be accomplished on the specific day of 'Shasti Puja' before the idols were adorned with flowers and garlands that would obscure the silverwork. This painstaking process, involving visits to every Puja Mandap and discussions with countless committee members, underscores the depth of the tradition.
Parija's work makes a compelling case that the Cuttack celebration, with its unique artistic signature, is more spectacular than the famed Dussehra of Mysore or the Ganapati festival of Mumbai. Despite its antiquity, grandeur, and unique artistic tradition, the Durga Puja of Cuttack has not yet received the same level of national and international recognition as other major Indian festivals. There is a growing call for this spectacular celebration to be included in the prestigious UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, a recognition that would finally give Cuttack's "silvery touch" the global acclaim it so richly deserves.
The Art of Devotion: Murti, Medha, and Tarakasi
A Unique Artistic Tradition: Cuttack's Durga Puja is distinguished by its spectacular 'ChandiMedhas,' massive silver filigree backdrops for the idols, showcasing the city's world-famous Tarakasi art.
A Heritage Older Than Kolkata's: The tradition of worshipping clay idols of Goddess Durga in the 1000-year-old city of Cuttack dates back to the 16th century, making it one of the oldest such celebrations.
A Growing Spectacle: The tradition of the 'ChandiMedha,' which began with one in 1956, has now grown to an "elite club" of 32, with more being added each year.
A Call for UNESCO Recognition: There is a strong sentiment that Cuttack's unique and grand Durga Puja celebration deserves to be included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
