Hindustani78
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Every year in April, a little known folk dance dating back to the 8th century takes place in Southern Odisha at Ganjam where devotees undergo penance after obtaining permission from Lord Shiva. They begin to go through the physical torture – ‘Danda’ (Penance) along with rituals stretching for a number of days before Goddess Kali. The devotees also perform dance and narrate the sufferings in order to wash away their sins by pleasing the goddess. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
The Danduas or the devotees go through three types of penance; Dhuli (Sand) Danda , Pani (Water) Danda and Agni (Fire) Danda. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
The Danduas have to sleep on sand during day in scorching heat and after sunset, remain inside pond for more than one hour (Pani Danda). (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
The ‘Danduas’ generally stay near a temple or some sacred place and stay away from their near and dear ones to concentrate on worshipping. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
Dressed in red, yellow and saffron devotees move out in the morning amidst beating of drums and blowing of conch shells and trumpet. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
During the festival, ‘Danduas’ take food only once in a day and do not take water till Pani Danda in the evening. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
Devotees form a human pyramid during Danda Nacha. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
The Danduas or the devotees go through three types of penance; Dhuli (Sand) Danda , Pani (Water) Danda and Agni (Fire) Danda. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
The Danduas have to sleep on sand during day in scorching heat and after sunset, remain inside pond for more than one hour (Pani Danda). (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
The ‘Danduas’ generally stay near a temple or some sacred place and stay away from their near and dear ones to concentrate on worshipping. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
Dressed in red, yellow and saffron devotees move out in the morning amidst beating of drums and blowing of conch shells and trumpet. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
During the festival, ‘Danduas’ take food only once in a day and do not take water till Pani Danda in the evening. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)
Devotees form a human pyramid during Danda Nacha. (Arabinda Mahapatra / HT Photo)