Odisha on Thursday joined the rest of the country in celebrating Vijayadashami, the festival that signifies the triumph of good over evil.

The occasion was marked with rituals at temples and puja mandaps across the state, where Maa Durga was venerated for vanquishing the demon Mahishasura.

From the early hours, devotees thronged community pandals and shrines, immersing themselves in Vedic chants and the recitation of the Chandi Path. Priests are conducting the traditional Aparajita Puja this afternoon, followed by the symbolic immersion of the Kalash (sacred pitcher), which formally concludes the nine-day Durga Puja festivities.

Organisers across Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and other major towns reported heavy footfall since morning. Families gathered in large numbers to seek divine blessings

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