The denizens of Kendrapada are gearing up for the famous lakshmi Puja for which the district headquarters town earns a name in the whole State.
With the festive mood in the air, the locals are painting their houses and planning to have a lot of fun and frolic. This year about 67 puja pandals will be set up in the township area. 46 medhas out of 67 will be joining a two-day mass immersion procession after the end of a nine-day festival.
The puja will commence from October 7 and continue till October 13. Immersion will take place on October 14 and 15.
The pandals and light arches are now under construction. In a few pandals only finishing touches are to be given.
As the coastal district is a hotbed of communal tension, the district police will put up mammoth security arrangements to maintain law and order during the festivities.
SP Satish Kumar Gajavhiye said about 19 platoons of police force are going to be engaged, besides seven DSPs, eight Inspectors and 89 SIs /ASIs.
Strict excise regulation and traffic arrangements are going to be followed from Monday night till the immersion procession. A special squad has been formed to nab eve teasers, mischief mongers and anti socials, he added.