8.6 Khambeswari as Agrarian and Village Tutelary Deity

In Dhenkanal, Anugul, Boud, and Baramba, Khambeswari is worshipped both as goddess of agriculture and village tutelary deity. As village deity, she is worshipped for warding off epidemics, and protecting the livestock from disease. In Anugul region she is worshipped as an agricultural goddess during the rainy season in the month of Bhadra (corresponding to August-September) at the time of transplantation of paddy seedling in the field by the cul­tivators (Pattanaik 1922:80). Rath (2009:87) has gone further to associate the festival with kadua (mud) to justify its name Kaduali Puja (worship during cultivating season).

8.7