Bhubaneswar, Oct 3: The annual Durga Puja festivities concluded across Odisha on Friday with thousands of devotees participating in grand immersion processions, bidding an emotional farewell to Goddess Durga.

The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack transformed into vibrant corridors of celebration, echoing with music, dance, and devotion.

Twin Cities Celebrate in Style

As many as 193 community Durga Pujas were organised in Bhubaneswar, and 160 in Cuttack. The Durga pujas culminated in elaborate processions that began around noon and continued late into the night. Major roads were lit up with decorative lights and firecrackers, while cultural performances replaced DJ boxes due to sound restrictions.

In Bhubaneswar, immersion processions were conducted in groups by cultural organisations, including the Bhubaneswar Bhasani Utsav Committee (Saheed Nagar), Rajdhani Mandir Suraksha Bhasani Committee (Nayapalli), Uttar Bhubaneswar Bhasani Committee (Chandrasekharpur) and Old Town Bhasani Committees, following four designated routes, police said.

In Cuttack, immersion points such as College Chhak, Ranihat, and Devigada ghat saw massive crowds, with temporary ponds created for eco-friendly idol immersion.

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Security and Sustainability

To ensure smooth conduct, a total of 122 platoons of police were deployed, supported by bomb disposal units, and ODRAF personnel with CCTV and drone surveillance. Traffic restrictions were enforced throughout the day.

In Bhubaneswar, five temporary ponds were prepared to prevent river pollution, though two were damaged by heavy rains. Mayor Sulochana Das assured timely repairs were underway.

Sound Monitoring and Safety

For the first time, a 60-member police unit named CTC 60 was deployed to monitor sound levels, ensuring processions did not exceed the 60-decibel limit. Fire services and disaster response teams remained on standby to prevent any untoward incidents.

The farewell to Goddess Durga was marked by devotion, discipline, and a growing commitment to sustainability.