The towns of Dhenkanal and Kendrapara are bustling with festive fervour as Gajalaxmi puja celebrations got off to a colourful start on Saturday.
While idol makers have finished giving finishing touches to the Laxmi idols, the mandaps have been decked up with huge tableaus, gigantic gates, and decorative lights for the 11-day extravaganza in Dhenkanal.
The 75-ft-high Adiyogi mandap at Ganesh Bazar is going to be the main attraction of this year’s celebration.
As per reports, Goddess Laxmi is being worshipped at 38 puja mandaps in Dhenkanal with mandaps having silver tableaux. It is pertinent to mention here that worship of Goddess Laxmi is usually performed in the evening. But due to the lunar eclipse tonight, the puja in Dhenkanal will be completed end of the day this year.
“As per the almanac, all the rituals should be completed before 4:05pm today as the time becomes inauspicious due to the lunar eclipse. We will conduct the Kalash Yatra now and after that, we will start our puja at the mandap and will try to finish it by 3 pm,” said the priest of the Laxmi Bazar puja mandap in Dhenkanal.
Similarly, Kendrapara town has also decked up for the Gajalaxmi Puja today. Many pandals have come up at Duhuria, Tini Muhani, Law College Chhak, New bus stand, Old bus stand, Kakata, Madhiala, Shanti Sahi, and several other places in the town.
While the puja will continue for 11 days in Dhenkanal, it will be observed for seven days in Kendrapara district.
Gajalaxmi Puja traces its origin to Kumar Purnima which is also observed on this day - the last day of Ashwina month, marking the beginning of Kartika as per the Odia calendar. Kumar Purnima is mostly dedicated to all unmarried girls.