Durga Puja: Grand immersion ceremony begins in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar; 122 platoons of police force deployed

The Dussehra festivity will come to an end on Friday as the Twin City of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar are set to bid adieu to Goddess Durga. The streets of the cities have come alive with the sound of conch shells, beating drums, and chants of ‘Jai Maa Durga’ as devotees prepare for colourful processions to escort the idols for immersion.

In Cuttack, where the immersion festival is a cultural spectacle in itself, processions began early in the morning. After completing the traditional ‘Sahi Parikrama’, the towering idols wound their way through the city’s main arteries, College Chhak, Ranihat, Mangalabag, Buxibazar, Darghabazar, and Choudhury Bazar, drawing large crowds of onlookers. 

According to sources, 12 idols had already been immersed at the historic Devigada ghat by 3 am, where a temporary pond has been constructed this year to ensure smooth and eco-friendly immersion.

To maintain order during the massive public gathering, police have deployed 122 platoons of force, supported by central security teams. Traffic restrictions remain in force along the immersion routes, with diversions in place to manage the heavy rush of vehicles and devotees.

In Bhubaneswar, the festive spirit is equally vibrant as idols from different neighbourhoods are carried to the banks of the Kuakhai and Daya rivers for immersion. To curb river pollution, the administration has set up temporary ponds along the riverbanks, where the idols are being immersed in an eco-friendly manner.

While the festival marks a ritual farewell to the Goddess, it also brings together art, devotion, and community spirit. 

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For weeks, the Twin City had been lit up with decorative gates, lights, and grand pandals. With immersion, the mood is both joyous and poignant, celebrating the victory of good over evil, yet tinged with the emotion of parting from the Goddess Durga.