The famous Biswakarma Puja got off to a colourful start here in and around the Paradip port town with various organisations and industries putting up their pandals and celebrating the puja with great religious fervour.
The puja will continue for next seven days. Cultural programmes, including melody, jatra and stage shows by cine artistes will be organised at all the pandals by the organisers to attract the crowds.
Hundreds of small and big pandals of lord Biswakarma have been erected across the Paradip town and its vicinity. The big pandals are found at the center of the port town like at the Jayadev Sadan. lord Biswakarma is known as the god of engineering and construction and is worshipped by the general public, industries and trade unions for welfare and growth of all.
Trade unions like the Eastern India Oil Refinery Workers Union, the Eastern Odisha Workers Union, the IFFCO Paradip Unit, the ESSAR Steel, the IOCl Paradip Refinery Project and the Jagatsinghpur District Truck Owners Association have already completed their preparations for the Biswakarma Puja. The Paradip Port has awakened to life with colourful lights, festoons and sound.
The local police have made elaborate arrangements for traffic and crowd management. Known anti-socials and notorious elements are cornered up. CCTV cameras have been fitted at various points to keep a vigil on the crowd. Police control room, medical centers and information centers have been opened to help the public. The Paradip Port Trust and the Paradeep Municipality have extended their full cooperation for the celebration of the puja, including supply of electricity, drinking water and mobile toilets etc.
lakhs of visitors are expected to throng the town in the week-long celebration.