Bhubaneswar: In a bid to minimise pollution of riverbeds, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has prepared two temporary ponds on Kuakhai and Daya river banks for immersion of Ganesh idols, informed BMC Commissioner Bijay Amrut Kulange on Wednesday.
“More than 50 pandals will be set up for Ganesh Puja in Bhubaneswar this year. All idols of Lord Ganesh across the city will be immersed in these two temporary ponds,” said Kulange.
The civic bodies of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have been creating artificial ponds for immersion of idols of community puja pandals organised during Ganesh Puja and Dussehra for the last several years. The step has been taken to prevent pollution of rivers and water sources with petroleum-based colours and polythene and plastic materials that are used for transport of puja materials.
Kulange further said there will be no restriction of visit of the devotees to the pandals in Bhubaneswar for darshan this year. Though the COVID restrictions have been lifted, he appealed to the people to take precautionary measures such as use of masks and sanitisers.
It is pertinent to mention here that after a two-year break due to COVID curbs, Odisha capital is all set to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in a grand way on August 31.
A special attraction this time will be a 50-ft idol which is being prepared to be worshipped at Nayapalli. The organisers are also planning a 50-kg ladoo to be offered to Lord Ganesh. “Artists from Kolkata and Mumbai have been working for the past three months in building the huge Ganesh idol for this year’s celebrations,” said a puja organiser.
Another high-rise Ganesh idol is reportedly being prepared at Badagada, reports said adding that around 51-ft Ganesh idol with 8-ft Mushak (mouse) will be worshipped at the pandal where a 50 kg ladoo will be offered to the Lord.
Similarly, a 46-ft Ganesh is reportedly being erected at Saheed Nagar. Here also, a 50-kg ladoo will be offered to the Lord.
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