Post News Network
BHUBANESWAR: As bells toll for the Durga Puja celebrations, the various puja committees here are letting no stone unturned to ready the pandals in time to ensure a colourful and devotional season for the citizenry. While the Cuttack puja pandals are mostly known for their silver tableaux, the scene is different in Bhubaneswar. The Sahid Nagar Durga Puja Samiti and the Sarbajanina Durga Puja Samiti at the old station bazaar are two pandals where the idols of the goddess are decorated with huge silver and gold tableaux. “Last year we decided to erect a silver medha (arch) for which we used 2.5 quintals of silver. This year, we have added 40kg of silver and designed other jewelleries for Ma Durga. The hands of Khemji jewellery are making the medha and 90 per cent of the work has been done already,” said Narayan Mohapatra, secretary of the Puja committee. The outer gate of the Sahid Nagar Puja pandal will be a replica of the Buddha temple of Thailand and this is under the guidance of Asim Maite.
As many as 40 from Kolkata are working day and night to complete the pandal on time. “Every year we try to do something different by selecting some unique designs. This year, we have selected the Buddha Temple from Thailand as the theme for the pandal. The length of the pandal will be 120feet, whereas its height will be 70feet,” he said. Speaking about the other major attractions, Mohapatra said, “Like every year, we have a mini bazaar with 50 stalls where food and other items will be available. This year, Ravana Podi ceremony will be different as we have decided not to burn any effigy. Rather, this year, visitors will be treated to a light and sound show, which will have the narration of a great mythological story related to the festival.”
Heavy security arrangement will been made with involvement of private security guards, volunteers and CCTV cameras. “Crowd management is our main concern, which is why we have involved security guards along with 50 volunteers. Apart from this, we have installed 20 CCTV cameras,” he said. The Sarbajanina Durga Puja Samiti in the old station bazaar is the oldest Durga puja pandal in the city. It would be 61 years of its show this year. Every year, the puja pandal of this committee is the major attraction among the visitors because of its unique design and style, Chandi Medha and real gold and silver jewelries. “We are not making any new jewelries but, yes, we have modified some the jewelries like crown, necklace, and the medha. Some of the jewelries which were broken has been repaired and have been polished.
For this, we have used 2 quintals of silver,” informed Deepak Kumar Jena, secretary of the puja committee. “This year, we have selected the replica of Sai Temple of Shridi for the outer gate whereas the inside of the gate will have images highlighting the Jagannath culture. For the last seven months, the work has been going on and almost 80 per cent of the work is over,” he said. Speaking about the security arrangements, he said there will be proper security with police personnel and more than 200 volunteers too will take up position for assistance to devotees.
