Interview Times 
Dhenkanal : The famous Gajalaxmi Puja of Dhenkanal has commenced with great festive fervour and gaiety here in Dhenkanal. The puja began on Monday evening with kalash yatra followed by traditional puja rituals amid the resonating sounds of conch shells, bells, cymbals and dhols. Every year the Puja begins on Kumar Purnima and continues for 11 days. In Dhenkanal Goddess Laxmi is worshipped in 38 Puja pandals.
The entire town has taken on a vibrant festive look and soaked in devotion as devotees thronged the pandals to catch a glimpse of the goddess and offer their prayers.
Soumyabrata Sahoo, a devotee at Meena bazaar puja pandal said, ” Today as per the muhurat the puja started and after the Kalash Stapana, the priests performed the special homas and yajnas seeking the Goddess’s blessings for prosperity and happiness. After which arati was done and, we offered puspanjali to the Goddess.”
Markets and streets across the town are decorated with colourful, dazzling lights and adorned with decorative gates.
Pritish Prasad Sahoo, a local resident said, “We are very excited that our famous Gajalaxmi Puja has begun today. After the puja completed here we were offered prasad and I am very much elated for that. I pray to Goddess Laxmi to bless us with wellness and prosperity.”
Adding to the grandeur, Kanchan Bazaar Puja committee added a Silver tableaux this year as it celebrates its platinum jubilee.
This year Ganesh Bazaar Puja committee has setup a huge artistical gate while other committees have showcased creative, theme-based pandals. Kaibalya Bazaar Puja committee has drawn attention by setting up a magnificent pandal decorated with foam, samuka, chumki, patra choupati (leaf bowl), dry leaves, Arjun fruit seed and wood apple shell.
To ensure smooth conduct of the festival, the district administration and police have made elaborate arrangements for law and order, traffic regulation and crowd management. The local municipality have also made adequate arrangements for maintaining cleanliness in the town during the puja. Also several temporary police aid camps have been set up at major chowks and junctions.
This year, the Puja will continue for nine days instead of eleven and will culminate on October 15 with the Visarjan Utsav.
