Two pandals in City allowed to hold ‘Ravana Podi’

Bhubaneswar: A day before the Dashami of the Durga Puja, the Commissionerate Police has given permission to two puja pandals in the city to organise the ‘Ravana Podi’ while abiding the directives of the Supreme Court.

Due to non-fulfilment of the condition laid by the apex court regarding barricading of the ‘Ravana Podi’ spot while keeping visitors at 100 metres away, many pandals in the city were not allowed to organise the fireworks.

The Baramunda Durga Puja committee and Jharpada committee are allowed to organise the ‘Ravana Podi’ tomorrow.

Satyabrata Bhoi, Bhubaneswar DCP, said, “The puja committees had submitted the sketch earlier. Permission will be given to those who will fulfil the specifications.”

Meanwhile, the Saheed Nagar Durga Puja committee has decided to organise a laser and sound show instead of the ‘Ravana Podi’.

Narayan Mohapatra, secretary of the Saheed Nagar Puja committee, said, “To make people happy we will burn the Ravana effigy with ghee followed by the laser show.”

Welcoming the decision of the Commissionerate Police, Prasanna Kumar Jena, a resident, said, “The main motive of ours is to pay obeisance to the goddess. The ‘Ravana Podi’ is creating only pollution and the danger of harming people.”

As per the SC directive, police and fire personnel should be present during the ‘Ravana Podi’.