In the Banai Raj Gharana of Sundergarh district(northwestern part of the Odisha state), since three hundred years ago, in the month of Chaitra, the worship of Maa Vasuli Devi is celebrated with great pomp and a fair has also been organized on this occasion.
This year, in the month of Chaitra, the puja was to be performed in a traditional way from April 5 to 14. During this, city circumambulation of Maa Vasuli Devi, Kalash Yatra from Brahmani river and fair were to be organized. According to tradition, people who keep vows in worship also offer sacrifices to the Goddess. This worship remains the center of attraction for the people of Banai. Swings, an animal fair with circus, utensils and different types of shops were used in the fair and people used to wait for it throughout the year. The people of the district and nearby areas used to enjoy it for nine days.
Chaitighoda Nacha- Vasuli Devi
Chaiti Ghoda Dancing, also known as Horse Dance, is associated with the Shakti worship of coastal Orissa. Only members of the Kaibarta caste are capable of using this folk artefact. In honour of their caste deity Vasuli Devi, who is regarded as one of the sixty-four Yoginis and one of the avatars of Lady Durga, it is carried out in the month of Chaitra from the full moon day to the eighth day of Vaisakha.
A man who has been transformed into a horse dances to the music of Dhole and Mahuri while being accompanied by poems written by local poets. The songs often depict the episodes from mythology. Together with the drummer and piper, the performing group comprises of the three major characters Rauta, Rautani, and the horse dancer.This old dance form is very popular in the region and consistently attracts a large audience.
