Bhubaneswar Durga Puja 2024: Large crowd at puja pandals

Bhubaneswar, Oct 11: As Bhubaneswar lights up in a dazzling spectacle of devotion and creativity, the spirit of Durga Puja has gripped the city in full swing, with Maha Ashtami marking the peak of celebrations. Thousands of devotees are flocking to the city’s famous pandals, admiring the magnificence of Maa Durga, with the air filled with divine chants, cultural performances, and the sweet fragrance of flowers.

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Some of the city’s most iconic pandals, such as those in Nayapalli, Saheed Nagar, Rasulgarh, Old Station Bazaar, and Baramunda, are attracting large number of visitors, each offering a unique cultural experience through their elaborate designs. From replicas of Gujarat’s Swaminarayan Temple at Rasulgarh to the eco-friendly terracotta-themed pandal at Nayapalli, creativity knows no bounds.

Old Station Bazaar, with its towering 40-ft tall and 154-ft wide pandal inspired by the ancient Vishnu Temple of Angkor Wat, has become a crowd-puller, while the Jharpada Durga Puja Samiti has constructed an 85-ft tall ‘Imperial Palace,’ complete with a grand garden and fountain, adding to the visual grandeur.

Durga Puja celebrations in Bhubaneswar trace their origins to the 1950s, with historic pandals such as those at Kalibari, Old Station Bazaar, and Unit II Market Building setting the foundation. The Saheed Nagar Puja, which began in 1978, gained immense popularity in the mid-1980s, thanks to the efforts of community leaders like Dhiren Das and Dr. Jagannath Mohapatra.

Subhamita Das, a regular visitor, shared, "I’ve been visiting the Saheed Nagar puja since childhood, and every year, it feels like homecoming. The decorations get better every year, but the warmth of the occasion remains the same."

To ensure the safety of the vast number of devotees, the Commissionerate Police has launched the ‘Shakti Bahini,’ a special motorcycle patrolling unit with 40 all-women officers at the 187 puja pandals.

Niharika Pattnaik, a local resident, expressed, "Durga Puja is not just a festival; it's an emotional journey for me every year. Most importantly, the 'Shakti Bahini' initiative has created a safer and more secure atmosphere for all of us."

Adding to the festive spirit, Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and former CM Naveen Patnaik visited various pandals, offering prayers and engaging with devotees. Majhi, who visited pandals in Old Town, Sundarpada, Baramunda, Nayapalli, and Rasulgarh, received a warm welcome from the public.

A young visitor at Nayapalli said, "The CM himself visiting so many pandals shows his connection with the people. It's an unforgettable experience."

Meanwhile, Patnaik’s visit to the Rasulgarh, Saheed Nagar, and Badagada puja mandaps was met with an equally enthusiastic crowd. “His presence brought a wave of positivity to the pandal,” said a local resident at Badagada mandap.

Despite a forecast of rain earlier in the week, local vendors were relieved to learn that no rainfall is expected during the remaining days of the festival. A shopkeeper at Baramunda’s Meena Bazaar said, “We were quite anxious about the weather, but now that there’s no rain forecast, we’re hoping for successful business in the last three days.”

As the celebrations continue to unfold, Bhubaneswar remains a vibrant hub of tradition, festivity, and communal spirit, with Durga Puja being a time to not only honour the goddess but also celebrate the unity and creativity of the city.