Jagatsinghpur, Sept 14: A preparatory meeting for the observance of the Dussehra Festival in Maa Sarala Temple at Jhankad in Jagatsinghpur district was held under the chairmanship of ADM Sambit Rout on Friday. 

An expenditure outlay of Rs 13,86,454 was unanimously passed at the meeting.  

Detailed discussions were held on issues like rituals to be held from Mulashtami (September 24) to Mahashtami (October 10), smooth darshan of the deity and smooth movement of the crowd, traffic control, regular supply of drinking water, and the uninterrupted supply of electricity and the provision of first-aid facility during the festival. 

Temple's main priest Ranjan Kumar Panda and other servitors demanded that the Dola Mandap, located in front of the Lions' Gate, be shifted to a safer zone soon to make festival affairs easy. In response, the ADM assured that a team of officials would inspect the sport soon and action would be taken accordingly. 

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