In addition to Prabhu Srijagannath, Srimandir, the Bay of Bengal, Khaja, and paths clogged with pilgrims and tourists, the city of Puri in the Indian state of Odisha also hosts the Devi Durga Gosani Yatra in the lunar month of Aswina.
Wherever the clay statue of Goddess Durga is worshiped on the mandaps or medhas during the fall season, whether in Kolkata, Cuttack, or any other location, she is adored as Maa Durga.
However, Gosani, the avatar of Goddess Durga, is only worshipped in Puri. King Chodgang Dev initiated the Puri Gosani yatra in the 11th century. During this event, a temporary clay idol of the goddess is created and adored as a Gosani. All of the Gosani decorations and sculptures in Puri are based on regional folklore, culture, and folk art. Compared to the Durga idols often worshiped in other regions of India, the structure and appearance are distinctive.
The Puri Durga statues represent the buffalo monster Mahishasura being nailed to the ground, making them appear more enraged, hostile, and warlike. In comparison to the clay idols of other places, which appear more slim, affectionate, and with a motherly smile, the Puri Gosanis are structurally also bigger and plumper. Gosanis’ gaze was never intended to meet the eyes of followers; rather, it was designed to look directly into Mahishasura’s eyes in order to vanquish and subdue the demon. Mahishasura’s idol has always been depicted as having a human body and a buffalo head. The statues are painted in primary, organic hues like hingula, conch, and lamp black.
Various Gosanis ornaments are made using traditional Sola and Jari skills.
Locally known as Sahi Durga, she is revered in various Gosani forms in different parts of Puri. ‘Kakudikhai Gosani’ of Baniyapati in Balisahi is the head Gosani among all the Gosanis. She represents Goddess Bimala, the Tantric Consort of Sri Jagannath, outside the Srimandir temple.
She has the hair of Mahisasur in one of her left hands along with weapons. Her right foot rests on her steed, the lion, and her left foot rests on Mahisasura’s shoulder. After Kakudikhai Gosani, “Jhanimundi Gosani” of Dolomandapa Sahi comes in second; she is also revered as Dasabhuja. With a height of 16 feet 16 inches, she is also the second-tallest of all the Puri Gosani statues. In Markandeswar Sahi, Gaudbada, and Balisahi, she is referred to as “Jhanhikhai Gosani.”
The tallest and oldest idol is known as “Barbati Gosani.” She is revered as the ashtabhuja (eight-handed), a 20-foot tall deity. The “Sunya Gosani” idol shows Mahishasura and Durga engaged in aerial combat. Hills, forests, rivers, and animals are shown in the sculpture’s lower portion (a bird’s-eye perspective of the world). The Bandurga idol known as “Kantakakadhi Gosani” lacks a statue of Mahishasura. Ashtabhuja, the goddess in this instance, is seen standing on one leg. Shiva stands next to them as Vishnu takes her other foot and extracts the thorn from it.
This sculpture demonstrates the peaceful coexistence and presence of Vaishnavas, Shaivas, and Shaktas. During the rule of the Bhoi monarch Gajapati Ramachandra Dev, the worship of “Vogajaga Gosani,” who is revered in Vogajaga Akhada, began. In addition to this, several Puri sahis also worship the Gosanis of Panpriya, Hadabai, Gelabai, and Belabai. One can tell that this Gosani Yatra is entirely unique to Puri based on folk art and culture just by looking at the names of the Gosanis. It was unaffected by any other cultural practice’s arts and crafts.
In Puri folklore, a female malevolent ghost is referred to as a “Gosani.” Lord Shiva is also referred to be the master of yoginis, betals, ghosts, goblins, and demons. As a result, it is thought that the Gosanis are a manifestation of Lord Shiva’s Shakti. Since Chodgong Deva started the Gosani Yatra and the Madala Panji identifies him as a Tantra Sadhaka and the location of the Goddess Bimalla is a Tantrik kshetra, the Gosani Yatra’s relationship to Tantric sadhana cannot be disputed.
