Cuttack Gears Up for Durga Puja: Over 170 Pandals Prepare for Grand Celebrations

Cuttack Gears Up for Durga Puja: Over 170 Pandals Prepare for Grand Celebrations

Cuttack: Sept. 28 (UDN): The festive spirit is building in Cuttack as preparations for Durga Puja gather momentum across the city, with more than 170 puja pandals getting ready to welcome devotees.

 Representational Image 

From traditional clay idol-making to mandap preparations, artisans and puja committees are working against the clock to complete arrangements ahead of the festival. Despite interruptions caused by rain, work has continued at several locations, with artisans putting in long hours to meet deadlines.

Artisans Race Against Time

At Professor Pada, preparations are underway for an approximately 18-foot-tall Durga idol, described by the organisers as one of the tallest in the state.

The first phase of clay work has been completed, while artisans are preparing to begin the next stage of idol-making.

At Haripur Dolamundai, meanwhile, craftsmen are working on the bamboo and straw framework of the idol. The first layer of clay is expected to be applied shortly.

For the artisans, idol-making is not merely a profession but a work carried out with considerable devotion.

“I am handling five to six idols. The bamboo work is already done, and now we will proceed with the first and second layers of mud. Working on the Goddess’s idol feels very different from any other task. We work with such devotion that we don’t think of anything else; it is unique and distinct from all our other works,” artisan Debendra Muduli said.

Over 170 Puja Mandaps Prepare

Durga Puja occupies a special place in Cuttack’s cultural calendar, with neighbourhoods across the city preparing elaborate celebrations featuring idols of Goddess Durga and Hara-Parbati.

While idol-making continues, puja committees are also busy preparing their respective mandaps and arranging facilities for devotees.

The scale of the celebrations means preparations extend beyond decorations and religious rituals, with authorities also working on crowd management, security and other logistical arrangements.

Administration Steps Up Preparations

The district administration and Commissionerate Police have begun coordination efforts ahead of the festivities. Meetings with puja committees, peace committees and other stakeholders have been held to discuss arrangements and ensure smooth conduct of the celebrations.

A single-window system has also been introduced to facilitate the process of obtaining permissions required by puja committees.

Authorities are additionally preparing for live coverage of Durga Puja celebrations, allowing devotees to follow the festivities remotely.

With memories of disturbances during last year’s Dussehra still fresh, officials have appealed to organisers and residents to cooperate with the administration and help maintain peace and order during the festival.

Cuttack Awaits the Festive Days

For puja committees and artisans, the countdown has already begun. With work continuing at multiple locations, the city is gradually taking on a festive look.

“We are very happy that the Goddess’s puja will be held with great pomp and discipline. The weather was a bit concerning, but it has improved now. Cuttack is a city of brotherhood, so there won’t be any issues. We will celebrate the puja of the city’s largest idol with peace and order,” Professor Pada puja committee president Bichitrananda Khuntia told OTV.

As the final layers of clay take shape and mandaps prepare to light up, Cuttack is getting ready for another season of devotion, tradition and community celebration.