Cuttack: Devotees thronged the Ma Dakhineswari Kali Temple at Khannagar here on Thursday on the occasion of Kali Puja.
Earlier, a priest said, “Various rituals are being followed since morning. ‘Maha Kali Puja’ will start at 5 pm and continue till 2-3 am. It will be followed by ‘aarti’ for about one hour and 15 minutes. On Friday morning, from 6 am to 7 am, there will be ‘pada darshan’.”
At least 18 platoons of police force have been deployed in the city this time for Kali Puja.
COVID-19 guidelines are in place and police said for the last two years the turnout has been less due to the pandemic.
While keeping a constant vigil at around 72 Kali Puja mandaps, police are also taking all steps to ensure that there is no bursting of fire crackers after 10 PM on Diwali.
