Cuttack: Durga puja is the biggest festival of the Silver City. Almost all puja committees of the city usually spend lakhs of rupee to celebrate the festival in a lavish way. However, some puja committees in the city here have opted for simple Dussehra celebration this time as they have been bereaved by the deaths of a few of their present and former office-bearers recently, sources said.
Shankarpur-Badambadi Puja Committee is well-known for its lavish Dussehra celebration. The committee used to put up large arches and colourful lights near its pandal to attract people. The puja panel invariably brings the most popular orchestra troupes of the state to perform near its pandal.
However, the puja panel has decided not to hold any orchestra programme this time as its secretary Bibhuti Bhusan Jethi passed away a few days ago. Jethi was suffering from some kidney-related ailments, sources said.
“Jethi was elected as our secretary in 1991 and he served our puja panel till his last breath. We are not holding any orchestra programme this year as a mark of respect to Jethi. Besides, we will have a simple immersion ceremony,” said a member of Shankarpur-Badambadi Puja Committee.
Similarly, Kazi Bazar Puja Committee has shunned lavish decoration near its pandal to mourn the death of its former president Ashutos Swain. According to locals, Swain had worked as the president of Kazi Bazar puja panel from 1987 to 1992.
It is learnt that Pithapur Puja Committee has decided not to organise any cultural event for this year’s Dussehra. Shankarsana Dalei, a senior member of the puja panel, breathed his last this September. Dalei had been associated with the puja committee for last several years, locals said.
Likewise, Mangalabag Durga Puja Committee has opted for a simple Dussehra in the wake of the demise of its former assistant secretary Sudam Pradhan. Pradhan had served the puja panel from 2007 to 2015. “This year, we will not distribute Dahi Pakhala (curd rice) among the devotees. Besides, we have cancelled a felicitation ceremony of senior citizens,” said a member of the puja committee.