Berhampur: With Navaratri starting from Thursday, Dussehra fervour has gripped Berhampur city in Odisha’s Ganjam district as puja committees are engaged in hectic activities for the celebration.
With the city hosting 42 puja pandals this year, the organising committees have been directed to follow the guidelines on use of DJs and loudspeakers, said Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M.
Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has also asked the puja committees and traders to keep their surroundings clean during the vibrant festival of Goddess Durga. “We have asked the puja committees and traders to ensure that pandals and business establishments remain clean and dump garbage only in dustbins. Sweepers of the BeMC will collect the garbage,” said Berhampur mayor Sanghamitra Dalai.
Berhampur sub-collector Dheenah Dastageer had detailed discussions with the police, sanitation, Fire Brigade, Health, PWD Buildings, PHED, Excise and Electricity officials in presence of the members of all puja committees recently. They agreed to perform the puja with pomp and gaiety in a peaceful atmosphere.
The puja committees have been instructed to immerse their idols on October 14. Four temporary ponds at First Gate, Minakshi Nagar, Gosaninuagaon and Ambapua have been constructed by the BeMC to prevent pollution of water bodies.
Meanwhile, the city’s markets and shopping complexes have witnessed large crowd with the people going for festival shopping. However, sharp rise in prices of different commodities has turned a deterrent for them.