Crores of rupees are likely to be spent in the four-day extravaganza here as the port town is gearing up for the Viswakarma Puja on September 17.
Viswakarma is said to be the God of all constructions. The puja is celebrated for last five decades since the port began operation here. Initially, the puja was restricted to various departments of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT).
Only the staff members were celebrating the puja in a low key way. After the port was developed, the pandals were erected outside the port prohibited area where the PPT management earmarked the areas for various departments.
Gradually, various trade unions operating in the port entered into a competition to organise the Viswakarma Puja. The business community, industries, besides several clubs and associations are the main contributors of the puja.
With a large number of organisations celebrating the puja, the event has grown lavish of late. Many pandals have come up in the heart of the port city near Jaidev Sadan. As the weather is nice, lakhs are expected to throng the pandals.
Meanwhile, Paradip Municipality has sounded high alert to arrest the breaking out of any contagious diseases. The police are making elaborate arrangements to control the traffic in various routes of the city, besides maintaining law and order. The construction of puja pandals have began since August 17.