Cuttack, Oct 5: This year, devotees in Cuttack will not get to admire the trademark Welcome Arch of Badambadi, a major attraction during Durga Puja celebrations in the Millennium City.
Every year, the Shankarpur-Badambadi Puja Committee constructs this prominent and eye-catching theme-based arch, symbolizing the rich Durga Puja tradition for the city’s residents. However, due to recent directives from the Odisha High Court, the arch will be absent this year.
Krisna Chandra Parida, Joint Secretary of the Shankarpur-Badambadi Puja Committee, stated, “Following the orders of the Odisha High Court, the administration demolished our pandal at Badambadi Chhak about a month ago.” He expressed deep disappointment, saying, “The demolition of the pandal has broken our hearts. We are no longer interested in constructing the Welcome Arch.”
Despite the setback, Parida assured that all rituals and prayers for the Har-Parvati idol, which began in 1965, will proceed as usual. The Cuttack Sadar Tehsildar has temporarily allocated land near the Tarini Temple, approximately 100 meters from the old pandal, for the Shankarpur-Badambadi Committee to conduct their worship. A temporary pandal is being constructed using bamboo and wooden planks, while artisans from Kumbar Sahi are creating a 14-foot tall Har-Parvati idol.
Parida noted, “There will be no gates, melody programs, or light decorations. We will celebrate the puja simply.” In 2003, the committee had crafted a stunning silver backdrop using four quintals of pure silver, but due to inadequate arrangements in the temporary pandal, it will not be utilized this year.
The committee has estimated a budget of Rs15 lakh for the festivities, with plans to prepare around 12 quintals of ladoo bhog to distribute among local residents. Additionally, a band party from Andhra Pradesh has been hired to lead the procession during the immersion ceremony. Parida added, “We will appeal to the administration for a permanent allocation of 1,500 to 1,600 square feet of land, where we can establish a permanent pandal. Once that is done, we will revive the tradition of constructing the Welcome Arch and resume using the Chandi Medha.”
