ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
Bhubaneswar: With just a few days left for Durga Puja, preparations are in full swing at pandals across the Capital city to welcome Goddess Durga. Among the major attractions this year will be the Saheed Nagar Durga Puja pandal, which will showcase Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, history and traditions under the theme ‘Our Legacy, Our Pride’. The pandal will feature representations of several iconic landmarks and cultural symbols of the state, including the Jagannath Temple, Rath Yatra, Shanti Stupa among other elements highlighting Odisha’s historical and cultural legacy.
The pandal will showcase various aspects of Odisha’s rich heritage, including iconic temples, historic monuments, Buddhist heritage sites and other significant cultural landmarks, highlighting the state’s diverse history, architectural grandeur and spiritual traditions. According to Harish Prasad Rath, Secretary of the Saheed Nagar Durga Puja Committee, the pandal will be 120 feet wide and 80 feet high. Around 40 workers are engaged in its construction to bring the theme to life. “The theme, ‘Our Legacy, Our Pride’, celebrates Odisha’s heritage, culture and glorious history.
Through the pandal, we aim to showcase the state’s rich traditions and the achievements of our ancestors,” Rath said. This year’s celebration marks the 49th year of the Saheed Nagar Durga Puja. The Maa Durga decorations will also include a silver tableau weighing 1.9 quintals and a golden crown weighing two kilograms for Goddess Durga, adding to the grandeur of the festivities. The committee unveiled the theme at a press conference here Tuesday, inviting people to join the celebrations and experience Odisha’s cultural richness during the auspicious occasion. Last year, the committee had presented a pandal themed around Operation Sindoor, paying tribute to India’s defence forces and highlighting the country’s sovereignty and commitment to peace.
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