The Cuttack Chandi Mandir, one of the oldest temples in Odisha, attracts more than 20 lakh devotees a year. Here, Goddess Kata Chandi is worshipped and she is considered the presiding deity of the Silver City. The fifth generation of the first priest of the temple still continues to perform the daily rituals of the Goddess. Although there is no written history of the temple, the story goes that the late Hansa Panda, who was the Purohit of the then Kanika Raja of Cuttack, used to graze cattle and sheep in the land. One day Panda was feeling tired and took rest there. On the same night, the Goddess Katakeswari Chandi appeared in his dream and requested him to take her out of the land. He narrated the incident to the Kanika king who ordered his workers to dig up the place.
Subsequently, 40 bullock carts of red sindoor and an idol were found. The idol is being worshipped as Goddess Katak Chandi since then. Locals worship the Goddess as a Living Goddess. Durga Puja is a major festival celebrated in the temple when the Goddess is worshipped in various incarnations of Goddess Durga. Durga Puja is celebrated in temple for 16 days starting from Ashwina Krishna Ashtami till Ashwina Shukla Navami and Vijayadashami. Only Hindus are allowed in the temple and the best time to visit is during Dussehra.
