Cuttack: Food is an intrinsic part of Durga Puja celebrations every year. In keeping with tradition, most of the pandals across the Silver City will be offering food to devotees.
The Chauliaganj Puja Committee is said to be spending Rs 16 lakh on the festivities and has planned to distribute Dahi Pakhala (curd rice) among 10,000 people during Dussehra.
Offering of fish as bhog to the goddess and its distribution among devotees has been a long-standing tradition of the Chandni Chowk Puja and Alisha Bazar pujas. Last year, more than 1,100kg of fish was offered as bhog to Goddess Durga on the day of Navami.
This year, both the puja committees will offer 500 kg of each to the Goddess on Navami. The fish variety will be either Rohu or Katla. The Alisha Bazaar Puja Committee has a huge dining area and they are planning to prepare 5 quintal of fish bhog for 5,000 people. They also prepare parcels of bhog that can be carried home. This year, the price of a parcel for two persons has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 40.
As for the Chandni Chowk Puja Committee, they will also be offering vegetables this year – kanika (sweet pulao) and khatta (kind of a pickle). These will be given to patrons who have made donations. This puja committee has also arranged for prior booking of parcels. The booking amount ranges from Rs 60 Rs 170 depending upon the size and quantity of the parcel.
