SOUMYARANJAN ROUT, OP
Bhubaneswar: Renowned for its grand thematic welcome gates and striking decorations, the Rasulgarh Durga Puja is entering its 34th year.
This season, the mandap will feature a massive gate modelled after Vatican City in Europe, measuring 75 ft high and 140 ft wide.
Around 30 to 35 artisans from Kolkata have been working on the installation since Rakhi Purnima using bamboo, fibre, plywood, sunpack, and foam sheets.
Over the years, Rasulgarh welcome-gates have consistently drawn huge crowds, previously replicating London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2019, followed by Delhi’s Akshardham Temple and Taiwan’s Buddha Temple in subsequent years.
Festivities will kick off with Ganesh Puja and Kalasa Yatra. Under the supervision of chief artisan Bidyut Jana from Kolkata, a 22-foot-tall idol of Goddess Durga featuring a silver crown is being crafted alongside deities Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya.
Bel Baran rituals-invocation of the Goddess- will mark Sasthi, leading into daily cultural events, melody nights, and star performances.
Special offerings include Khechudi Bhog on Sap tami, Dahi Pakhala on Asthami night, Anna Bhog on Navami, and Pitha Bhog on Dashami.
The immersion procession will march from the village area to the Kuakhai River, featuring traditional art forms like Ghodanacha, tribal dance, Ghumura, Dulduli, Punjabi drums, Ghantapatua, Singhaja, and Chungubaja.
To promote environmental sustainability, the traditional Ravan Podi (effi gy burning) remains suspended for the seventh consecutive year.
The committee is putting strong safety, accessibility, and security measures in place. Arrangements include fire safety systems, dedicated entry queues, and wheelchairs for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Over 40 volunteers and security personnel will be deployed alongside police forces, supported by 40 CCTV cameras to assist with crowd management and theft prevention. Parking facilities have been arranged across four designated sites.