The preparations for Durga Puja are going on in full swing across Odisha. However, the immersion ceremony this year in the Millennium City of Cuttack is most likely to be alcohol and DJ-free.
This year, Sharadiya Durga Puja will be celebrated from October 20 (Friday) to October 24 (Tuesday). A preparatory meeting was held in this regard by the Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee (peace committee) today.
In Cuttack, Durga Puja will be held in 29 ‘Chandi Medha’ puja pandals including two new ‘Chandi Medha’ pandals. The immersion programme will be held on October 25 (Wednesday).
During the meeting, the peace committee proposed to ban alcohol and DJ music in the immersion ceremony. Moreover, the committee demanded relaxation in helmet checking rules and permission for conducting melody and using loudspeakers till 12 am.
“The awful impacts of DJ and alcohol are well known to everyone. This could be a new beginning and everyone should follow the same. Everybody doesn’t consume alcohol. There are some people with such habits and with repeated requests, the graph has come down now,” said Debendra Sahu, president of Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee.
Meanwhile, Twin City Police Commissioner, Soumendra Priyadarshi asserted that a Single-Window Operation will be set up for devotees so that they can conduct puja without any hassle. On the other hand, CMC Mayor Subhash Singh assured that before Dussehra, all roads in the city would be repaired.
“We will certainly look into permitting loudspeakers till 12 am. Steps will also be taken to set up Single-Window Clearance, which is basically for permission. The immersion procession will be smoothly conducted if it goes alcohol-free. The proposal is certainly commendable and welcoming,” said Priyadarshi.