Nonstop rains from Wednesday have marred the festive spirit of the concluding ceremony of Dhenkanal Laxmi Puja.
As many as 38 Puja Mandaps from Baladia Bandha to Korihan Chhak and from Mahisia Pat to Similia, around 8 km across, have decorated the entire town with colourful lights and gates to give a view of Indrapuri from October 13.
The Jawahar Chauk Puja Mandap is celebrating its 75th year (platinum jubilee. For the first time in Dhenkanal ‘Sarasa’ Mela is being organised at the exhibition ground at Mahisiapat. Artisans from 17 States have displayed their products at 450 stalls and have made business of about Rs 10 crore.
In Dhenkanal, Laxmi Puja was first initiated by two artist friends, Gati Krushna Pattnaik and Braja Kishore Pattanaik, of Panjia Sahi, presently known as Mahabir Bazar, in the year 1923.