Bhubaneswar Durga Puja advisory for pandals released

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday issued strict advisory ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 172 pandals across the city. The civic body has called for a plastic-free celebration, with a special campaign against the use of plastic materials.

The civic body has emphasised maintaining a clean and safe environment, with provisions for separate dustbins for wet and dry waste at each pandal. Puja committees must hand over collected waste daily to sanitation vehicles. Flowers used in rituals will be recycled into incense sticks.

To encourage eco-friendly practices, plastic ornaments on idols have been banned. Committees are urged to use leaf cups, plates, and other biodegradable materials for serving prasad.

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Authorities have also stressed proper electrical connections, fire safety measures, and security arrangements during the festivities. Committees must deploy adequate security personnel to ensure safety and cleanliness during and after prasad distribution.

Additionally, puja organisers must ensure parking facilities near pandals to avoid traffic congestion. Community puja organisers will be responsible for keeping a five-meter radius around the venue clean.

BMC will also reward the best-maintained pandals. A September 25 deadline has been set for all preparations.

Moreover, strict rules have been enforced, including no loudspeakers without police permission, no permanent construction near pandals, and idol immersions only at designated spots. Use of flammable materials such as incense and lamps is restricted to marked safe areas.

With these measures, BMC aims to ensure a clean, safe, and eco-friendly Durga Puja celebration for the city.