Cuttack Chandi Temple, Odisha

The Cuttack Chandi Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi, the presiding deity of Cuttack,Odisha. The temple is located nearby the banks of the Mahanadi River.

It is famous for the annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja festivals. The Durga Puja festivities are prominent in Maa Cuttack Chandi temple which takes place for 16 days stating from dark fortnight of Ashwina Krishna Ashtami till Ashwina shukla navami and Vijayadashami.

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Late Sri Hansa Panda started worshiping the Deity with utmost Niti, Nistha, and Sradha. As per the scriptures, Goddess Chandi has four hands, known as Pasa, Ankusha, Abhaya, Bara. She is worshipped as Bhubaneswari while chanting Bhubaneswari Mantra.

After Late Sri Hansa Panda, his only son Late Sri Lakhana Panda started worshipping The Goddess in the same process and procedure. He was blessed with four daughters, named Champa, Tulasi, Mali and Malati. Those daughters were also helping their father Late Sri Lakhana Panda, in the rituals (Seva Puja) of the Deity. After praying so many days, Late Lakhana panda always prayed Maa Chandi to have a son and then he was blessed with a son, named Sri Dayanidhi Panda, who also followed the footprint of his predecessors. The temple came to lime light during Sri Dayanidhi Panda. Number of devotees increased during his period. He has six sons, who are presently performing rituals (seva puja) of deity. They are namely Sri Narayan Panda, Sri Narahari Panda, Sri Somnath Panda, Sri Chakradhar Panda, Sri Loknath Panda and Sri Ratnakar Panda.

The above heritary sevaks along with their fourteen sons are presently performing the Seva Puja (Rituals) in the Temple. The fourteen sons are Jagabandhu, Dinabandhu, Bikram, Gopal, Sarat Kumar, Sukhadeva, Bhagadeba, Manoj, Trilochan, Susant, Biswaranjan, Ramachandra, Pramod, Ranjit.

Raja Sailendra Narayan Bhanjadeo of Kanika was declared as Heritary Trustee by High Court, while Dayanidhi Panda’s family vested as Heritary Sevak.

Again, the Honorable High Court gave the order to frame a scheme for the temple. Now the institution of Cuttacka Chandi is managed under the said scheme. The management board comprises of reputed persons of the locality along with top government officials for the management of the holy institution. One Executive Officer has been appointed by the commissioner to look after the functions of the temple.

The goddess popularly called as Maa Cuttack Chandi, sits and rules on the heart of the ancient city.She has four hands holding Paasha(noose) ,Ankusha(goad),gestures dispelling fear (Abhaya),and granting boon(Varada). She is worshiped as Bhuvaneshvari (the queen of universe) by Sevayatas belonging to Utkala Brahmins every day. Maa Chandi is worshipped in various incarnations of Durga during the puja. In Cuttack, people strongly believe Maa Cuttack Chandi as ‘The Living Goddess’.

Cuttack Chandi Temple is nestled in the surrounding region of Cuttack. It is a popular place where quite a good number of people come to chant prayers. The temple has a unique history. There is a myth that the goddess appeared there to a man called Hansa Panda. The architectural beauty of the temple is quite alluring. The tranquil atmosphere of the temple offers immense pleasure to the heart.

The interior of the temple is exquisitely designed and the gateway of the temple is known for its architectural brilliance. The deity of Goddess Chandi inside the temple has Pasa, Ankusha, Abhaya and Bara as the four hands. The Durga Puja and Kali Puja are celebrated with much fanfare.

By Road: The Cuttack Chandi Temple is situated in Cuttack, Orissa state of India. Cuttack is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular buses.

By Rail: It is well connected through nearest Cuttack railway station (4.4 km)
to major cities railway stations like Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Ajmer, Pali, Jaipur, Ahmedabad.

By Air: The nearest Airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport (34.9 Km) which is well connected with regular domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai.

Cuttack Chandi Temple;

Temple remains open from 6am to 12 pm and then 2 pm to 6 pm. The Temple is famous for the annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja festivals. The Durga Puja festivities are prominent in Maa Katak Chandi temple which takes place for 16 days stating from dark fortnight of Ashwina Krishna Ashtami till Ashwina shukla navami and Vijayadashami.