Jajpur, Sep 24: On the third day of the auspicious Navratri festival, devotees thronged the sacred shrine of Maa Biraja in Jajpur to witness and participate in the revered Shodasha Upachara Puja.

Shodasha Upachara Puja is a sixteen-step ritualistic worship performed with deep devotion and grandeur.

The name comes from shodasa (sixteen) and upachara (service). The ritual aims to express deep devotion by engaging the senses and is a common practice in Hindu temples and homes for special occasions

To witness the puja, hundreds of devotees lined up at the temple premises to catch a glimpse of Maa Biraja’s divine feet and seek her blessings. This rare darshan is considered highly sacred, as devotees are granted the opportunity to view the goddess’s feet only during these nine days of the annual Durga festival.

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The Shodasha Upachara—which includes offerings of flowers, incense, lamps, and sacred food—was performed by temple priests following age-old traditions.