Durga Puja To Be Low-Key Affair In Odisha Capital This Year: Police Commissioner

Bhubaneswar: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Durga Puja will be a low key affair in Bhubaneswar this year, Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi said on Monday.

Briefing the media after a meeting with several puja committees, Sarangi said there will be no construction of gates and lightning arrangements at any puja mandap in the city. However, a decision on the recitation of the hymns of the Goddess over mikes will be taken later, he added.

Sarangi said a maximum of 10 members of the puja committee will be allowed to remain in charge of the puja.

“It has been decided that the puja committees will not collect ‘chanda’ in their localities and they will accept whatever amount the people give them. To avoid large congregations, the puja committees will not allow people to visit the puja mandaps,” he added.

Stating that the height of the idol will be within 4-5 feet, the police commissioner said that there will be no immersion procession or Ravan Podi. However, the puja committees will be allowed to immerse the idols.