The 93rd Dhenkanal lakshmi Puja kicked off on October 26 with cute idols, colourful gates and dazzling decorations.
The whole of the town from Govindpur to Korian Chhak and from Jubuli town to Similia has worn a festive colour. Around 41 Puja pandals have been erected which are vying with one another in terms of gaudy show-offs.
Despite good weather, thronging of visitors has not been much encouraging even as the puja has reached its 5th day. About 2 lakh people have so far visited the town though the number touches seven lakh usually by this time.
The fewer footfalls could be attributed to crop loss and despondency among the farmers. The villagers who generally throng this time to take a pleasure of the puja have stayed indoors. On the other hand, the Gramashree Mela, which generally opens just two days after Kumar Purnima, had not opened until Thursday.
Dhenkanal police also did not allow the makeshift shops to sit on footpath near the official residential quarter of the SP. The Dhenkanal lakshmi puja was started by two artist friends, Braja Kishore Pattnaik and Gati Krushna Pattnaik from Panjia Sahi in 1923. The puja was discontinued after 12 years of celebration for unknown reasons. later, the puja was restarted in 1942 and has been continuing till date.
