Surya Nagar’s Durga Puja: From Humble Beginnings to a Permanent Temple
Bhubaneswar, Sept 24:
Once a quiet residential pocket in Unit-7 of Bhubaneswar, Surya Nagar has today become a vibrant cultural hub, thanks to the enduring legacy of its Durga Puja celebrations.
Back in the late 1960s, when Bhubaneswar was still taking shape as the new capital of Odisha, a handful of residents in Surya Nagar came together with the idea of celebrating Durga Puja in their neighbourhood. What began with idols crafted in verandas, worshipped under makeshift tents, and immersed using trolley rickshaws, has now grown into one of the most respected community celebrations in the city.
The pioneers of this initiative—late Braja Kishore Mohanty, Chandramani Bhatt, Nilakantha Mishra, Gajendra Sanda, and Madhusudan Senapati—laid the foundation of a tradition that continues to thrive decades later. In the early days, wooden frames for the idols came from the workshop of Sanda Mousa, while residents contributed small amounts to keep the festival alive.
To safeguard the puja ground from encroachers, the committee under the leadership of young members like Niranjan Mishra and Uma Prasad Sanda sought the intervention of then minister Biswabhushan Harichandan, who ensured the land was formally registered in the name of the Surya Nagar Seva O Sanskrutika Sansad in 1981.
Over the years, the pandal transformed into a permanent structure, and in March 2025, a stone idol of Goddess Durga was consecrated in the newly built temple amidst the presence of nearly 5,000 devotees. Following this, the Basantika Puja was also observed, and this year, the committee has introduced the nine-day Navaratri Puja, set to conclude on Dashami.
Residents say the puja is not just about devotion but also about unity, culture, and community pride. With renewed energy, the committee has also pledged to keep every lane and street of Surya Nagar clean, making it a shining example of collective responsibility.
