Cyclone, Heavy Rain Mar Durga Puja Preparations In Twin Cities

Bhubaneswar: The impact of cyclone ‘Titli’ and heavy rain has affected Durga Puja preparations in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

The decoration of pandals and gates in the twin cities has been postponed in anticipation of the expected disasters. Generally, very year, the decoration of lights begins at this time.

Cuttack Ranihat Puja Committee member Subrat Kumar Sahu said, “We have experienced the same situation before for Hud Hud and Phailin. But with the blessings of God, our Durga idol was not affected. However, we are a bit panicky and have stopped our decoration work.”

“Our pandal was affected during the cyclone Phailin. This time too, we fear the cyclone and heavy rain. That is why we have told our artisans to postpone the work. We have spent a lot of money in making the idol and the pandal,” said Laxman Behera, a member of Nayapalli Durga Puja Committee.

Cyclone Phailin in 2013 and Hud Hud in 2014 had destroyed the pandals during Durga Puja in Odisha.

“As Odisha has been witnessing cyclones in the month of October every year, we had taken precautions while making the pandal. We used tarpaulin in the structure of the Puja Pandal and the gate. On hearing about cyclone ‘Titli’, we offered puja to Maa Durga to save our effort and money, which we had invested for the decorations. She saved us, as the city experienced rain only,” said Saheed Nagar Puja Committee treasurer, Harish Prasad Rath.

“We told our artisans to stop the work yesterday in anticipation of the rain. As we have to finish the work before October 14, we have called more artisans today and the preparation is on,” he added.

The Saheed Nagar Puja Committee has designed the pandal on the lines of the Padmavati Palace in Rajasthan.

Jharpada Durga Puja Committee convener Shridhar Jena said, “We have postponed our work for three days since Tuesday for the cyclone Titli. We have sufficient artisans to complete the work on time. We cannot stop natural disasters. That is why we have prepared accordingly.”

In Jharpada, city people can witness a replica of the Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur.

Odisha received drizzle from Wednesday evening. Some parts of the state have also received heavy rain. This disaster like situation had reduced the zeal of Durga Puja among the people and had the organisers worried.