ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
Bhubaneswar: The Capital came alive with devotion and festive fervour Monday as Ganesh Puja was celebrated with grandeur across the City. Thousands of devotees thronged colourful pandals and puja mandaps to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha amid special rituals, aartis, devotional music and cultural programmes. The celebrations at Jag amara New Road emerged as one of the biggest attractions this year, where the Smart Youth Force installed a mas sive 71-ft idol of Lord Gane sha. A 25-foot idol of Moosak Maharaj was also installed at the venue, attracting large crowds from different parts of the City. According to the organisers, it is the first time the organisation has installed a Ganesh idol of such a massive size.
Apart from Jagamara, prominent Ganesh Puja celebrations were organised at Badagada, OUAT Colony, Sijua, Jharapada, Lingaraj Nagar in Old Town and several other localities. Elaborately decorated pandals, artistic idols, illuminated entrances and special lighting added colour to the celebrations as families and devotees visited the mandaps throughout the day. At Badagada, the Ganesh Mahotsav organised by the Bright Star Youth Association drew a steady stream of devotees who came in large number to see a 65-ft-tall Ganesh Idol, while traditional rituals and community participation marked the celebrations at the OUAT Colony Ganesh Puja mandap. Similar scenes were witnessed at Sijua, Jharapada and Lingaraj Nagar, where local youth organisations and puja committees made elaborate arrangements for devotees.
Adding a unique dimension to the celebrations, a Tree Ganesh Puja was organised in front of the Bakul Library inside Biju Patnaik Park, pop ularly known as Forest Park. The initiative brought together devotees and nature lovers for a special celebration centred around environmental consciousness and devotion. The occasion was also celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm at several educational institutions.
The puja at Harekrushna Mahtab State Library, Bhubaneswar was collectively organised by the readers of the library, who participated in the rituals and sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha for the well-being, happiness, peace, prosperity and success of everyone. The library premises wit nessed a spiritual and festive atmosphere during the celebra tion with readers and partici pants celebrating the occasion with enthusiasm. Special pujas and aartis were organised at several pandals across the City, with devotees offering flowers, durba grass, fruits, sweets and other traditional offerings to Lord Ganesha. Prasad was distributed among visitors, while devotional songs and cultural programmes further added to the festive atmosphere.
Ganesh Puja brought togeth er people from different com munities and neighbourhoods, with youth organisations, read ers’ groups and local residents playing a key role in organis ing the celebrations. Massive idols, vibrant pandals, unique initiatives and large gatherings of devotees added colour and spiritual fervour to the City’s festive season.
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