All set for a grand Durga Puja

Rourkela: The fragrance of Durga Puja has begun engulfing the air with the start of revelry and celebration here to welcome Goddess Durga. This is evident from the preparations for pandals of different shapes, sizes and designs which are being given final touches by the workers.

The extravaganza of classical and oriental-based designs has provided financial support to people from varied walks of life, including painters, artists, electricians, tailors, potters and even idol jewellery makers. Bapi Bindhani, a noted artist of Rourkela said, “We are charging Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000, depending upon the sizes and structures of Idols”. He added that this year he and his teammates have made idols for Sector-2, Sector-5, Gajapati Market, Shaktinagar, Jagda and Telephone Bhawan.

This year the city has as many as 99 pandals, which have been put up by different Puja Committees, said Bhabani Shankar Kabi, Secretary of Central Puja Committee (CPC). Though the rituals and festivity have undergone numerous changes over a period of time, things have not changed much in some of the oldest puja pandals of the city, said Kabi adding that in SAIL Township, as many as 49 medhas have been set up, while in Fertiliser plant 14 medhas and in Civil Township 36 medhas have been erected.

This time medhas are coming up with unique themes and special paintings to attract more visitors. General Secretary of Shaktinagar Puja Committee Pratap Mallick said that this time his committee is spending Rs. 3 lakh on Pandal and Rs. 50,000 on idol, which is 16 feet high. “The idol we have designed is oriental-type in ‘Garuda Besa’ in which Maa Durga sits on Garuda, the holy bird, to protect the earth from evil”, he added.

Patitapabana Jena, President of Sector-2 Durga puja committee informed that this year the idol of Maa Durga is 18 feet high and if the crown is added, then it is 22 feet. “We are spending more than Rs. 8 lakh on Pandal and Rs. 30-35 lakh on crafting. The crown of Maa Durga is made up of Silver filigree which will attract a lot of visitors”, he said.

Apart from this, Telephone Bhawan Pandal crafted with Coir of Coconut and pandals erected at Sector-1 (old), 2, 4, 7, 8, 16, 17, Civil township, Basanti Colony (ABC-Block), Railway Colony, Daily Market, Fertiliser road, Special type pandal made in Bengali Style at Old Station Road and Deogaon pandal made of glass decorated idols here will be a major source of attraction for the people, informed CPC members.

Sudarsan Sethi, Additional SP, Rourkela informed that this year as many as 12 platoons of police will be deployed in the city to maintain the law and order. Executive Engineer, WESCO A N Meher said that every puja pandal has been provided adequate electricity.