Bhubaneswar: Five-day-long Durga Puja festivities in Odisha came to a fiery end on Sunday with Ravana Podi or the burning of life-size effigies of demon-king Ravana, signifying the victory of good over evil.
Huge effigies of the demon king were set afire with colourful fireworks as the crowds cheered in Jharpada, Baramunda, Naharkanta, Koradakanta, Bankual, Gopalpur, KIIT Road, and Chandaka areas in Bhubaneswar. ‘Ravan Podi’ was also held in Simulia Patna Dola Jatra field and Kapila Prasad Football Ground.
Deputy Chief Minister and Women & Child Development Minister Pravati Parida graced the event at Nayapalli. She lit a firecracker that zipped through to the effigy of Ravana, setting it on fire.
ଅସତ୍ୟ ଉପରେ ସତ୍ୟର ଏବଂ ଅଧର୍ମ ଉପରେ ଧର୍ମର ବିଜୟର ପ୍ରତୀକ ହେଉଛି ରାବଣ ପୋଡ଼ି।
ଜୟ ମା' ମହିଷାମର୍ଦ୍ଦିନୀ 🙏#DurgaPuja #RavanDahan #BijayaDashami pic.twitter.com/3rBfvoWl76— Pravati Parida (@PravatiPOdisha) October 13, 2024
At Baramunda, a 50-foot high Ravana effigy was erected and barricades set up 100 metres from it as per the guidelines issued by the local administration. The puja committee had engaged 100 volunteers to manage the crowd.
The Commissionerate Police here had also made adequate firefighting arrangements to prevent any mishap or untoward incident during the event.
Cuttack denizens gathered in huge numbers on the bank of the Mahanadi to witness a spectacular display of fireworks during the burning of Ravana effigy at Bali Jatra ground organised by the Cuttack district administration.
Similarly, Ravana Podi was also organised at Rourkela, Sambalpur, Khurda, Puri and other parts of the state.
