Bhubaneswar: Festive fervour gripped the state starting from the morning today as devotees started preparing to bid adieu ‘Mahisamardini’ Goddess Durga with the culmination of nine-day-long ‘Navaratra’ celebration and mark ‘Vijaya Dashami’.
Devotees in large numbers queued up in front of Puja Mandaps across the state and performed darshan of the deities on the final day before immersion. While ‘Aparajita Puja’ was held at the pandals devotees never left the chance to take part in it despite jam packed crowd.
In the capital city Bhubaneswar preparations were seen taking place in full swing for the ‘Ravana Podi’ event which makes an important part of the Dussehra celebration here. This year due to Supreme Court restrictions a few mandaps have been given permission to hold ‘Ravan Podi’ in the city and those are Baramunda, Jharpada, Naharkanta and Patia. Saheed Nagar and Nayapalli mandaps have been barred from holding fireworks for not complying with the set guidelines.
Similarly, the Commissionerate Police has made ample firefighting arrangements near the mandaps holding ‘Ravana Podi’ to prevent any mishap from occurring during the event. In addition to that, DCP Anup Sahoo will lead a police team to check safety precautions taken by these pandals ahead of the event. As per the set norms organisers have been told to maintain at least 100 meters distance between the spectators and the firecrackers.
Notably, ‘Vijaya Dashami’ which celebrates triumph of good over the evil also remembers Lord Sriram’s victory over demon king Ravana. As per the Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga descends on the earth on this day to fight all forms of evil.
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Ms Kalinga