Bhubaneswar: The Temple City of Bhubaneswar is all set to immerse itself in grand festivities for Gajalaxmi Puja, headlined by a towering 80-foot idol of Goddess Lakshmi installed at Patia, marking a first for the state capital and standing as its tallest structure this festive season.
Organised by the North Bhubaneswar Gajalaxmi Puja Committee at the Club Town ground in Patia, this maiden celebration aims to match the scale of traditional hubs like Dhenkanal and Kendrapada, allowing local residents to experience the grandeur without traveling far.
Preparations for the grand spectacle began six months ago through detailed deliberations among committee members. The idol and pandal were crafted over nearly a month by a team of around 30 artisans brought in from Jajpur. In strict adherence to traditional Srimandir customs, the religious proceedings commenced with an ankurarpan and kalash yatra, initiating the seven-day celebration that will culminate with a unique immersion procession on October 31.
To cater to visitors, the Patia venue features a sprawling Meena Bazaar, exciting rides, diverse food stalls, and local market shops. The committee has also organised a large-scale community outreach initiative, preparing a special halua bhog to serve thousands of devotees over two days. Cultural evenings will be a major highlight throughout the festival week, featuring performances by popular Odia playback singers and artists, including Diptirekha, Mantu, and Antara Chakraborty, alongside traditional devotional music and dance programmes.
The festive spirit extends beyond Patia, with several established youth clubs, mandaps, and local organisations across Bhubaneswar, including those at Saheed Nagar, Unit-9, Damana, and near the RIE campus, hosting their own Gajalaxmi Puja celebrations.
Police in the city have collaborated with organisers to establish comprehensive traffic management, public safety, and parking arrangements.
Simultaneously, across the state, preparations have reached a fever pitch, most notably in Dhenkanal, which is renowned for its 10-day extravaganza across 41 puja pandals. With lakhs of visitors anticipated to flock to the twon, the district administration has ensforced strict security protocols. Dhenkanal SP Ajinkya B Mane confirmed that 24 platoons of police personnel alongside 145 officers, ranging from Assistant Sub-Inspectors to Additional SPs—supported by Home Guards and APR personnel, are deployed for smooth crowd control and traffic control.
A preliminary flag march was also conducted from the SP office through Ganesh Bazaar to Baji Chowk to reinforce public safety as the state opens its doors to festival-goers.
