Durga

Durga is the warrior form of the Great Goddess in the Shakta tradition, shown with ten arms holding the weapons of the gods and riding a lion or tiger as she slays the buffalo demon Mahishasura. She is worshipped across Odisha as protector and mother. Cuttack's Durga Puja is among the best known in the state, with large decorated pandals, silver filigree ornaments and a river immersion on Dashami. At Puri, the goddess Bimala in the Jagannath temple is regarded as a form of Durga and is honoured during the sixteen day autumn rites. The main observances are Navaratri and Dasahara.

According to the Devi Mahatmya, part of the Markandeya Purana, the buffalo demon Mahishasura won a boon that no man or god could kill him and then drove the gods from heaven. The gods joined their radiance into a single blazing form, and each gave the goddess a weapon: Shiva his trident, Vishnu his...