Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended their heartfelt greetings to the people of Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra Friday.
Prime Minister posted a video on his official Twitter handle speaking about the importance of festival in our life and significance of Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day of Navaratri of Maa Durga.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also took to his microblogging site to send festive greetings to Odisha on this festive occasion.
‘Vijaya Dashami’, or Dussehra, which marks the end of Durga Puja is a celebration of victory of good over evil, is being observed across the State today. Since morning, devotees have been making beeline and thronging several Durga pandals and temples to seek blessings of the Goddess and offer prayer to Goddess Durga.
Special arrangements have been made at different puja mandaps and peethas across the state for the Vijaya Dashami celebrations.
On the occasion, various rituals, including Aprajita Puja are being performed at pandals. People also worship their vehicles, machines and instruments on the day.
Devotees were seen thronging pandals, which were in their glittering best, to offer prayers to ‘Mahishamardini’ on this auspicious day.
Special arrangements have been made at Puri Srimandir on this day for the ‘Suna Besha’ of Trinity. Following the morning ritual, grand bathing of ‘Ayudh Swarna Chakra’, ‘Hala Mushala’ and silver conch of Lord Jagannath were performed.
Devotees will get glimpse of Lord Jagannath and his siblings adorned with ‘Shreepayara’, ‘Shreebhuja’, ‘Kirata’ and other golden attires this evening.
Meanwhile, different puja pandals across the state have made arrangements for the ‘Ravana Podi’ Utsav this evening during which effigy of demon king Ravana will be set afire to mark the victory of Shri Rama on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami.
Adequate fire safety measures have been taken to prevent any possible mishaps during ‘Ravana Podi’.
A team of the Commissionerate police headed by Bhubaneswar DCP Anup Sahu will make ground visit to check out whether the safety norms suggested by police are being followed or not.
PNN