Interviewtimes 
Dhenkanal famous Gaja Laxmi Puja is just a night away, every year on the day of Kumar Purnima the puja starts and this the year the puja is going to start from 9th October. Dhenkanal town has already started witnessing the hustle- bustle and chaos. Gaja laxmi puja of Dhenkanal is quite famous and celebrated in great pomp and show, but since last two years due to Covid-19 protocol and guidelines the puja was celebrated in a low key manner. In Dhenkanal Goddess Gajalaxmi is being worshipped in around 38 puja pandals. Lakhs of people throng the city to have a glimpse of Goddess Gajalaxmi.
Artists are giving last touch to the idols of goddess while the pandal decorations work in also at final stage. Several huge gateways (torans) and light gateways have been erected in the middle of the roads and other lights decorations is also at final stage. After two years The puja will be celebrated in a grand manner. The puja will continue till 18 October followed the Visarjan Utsav on 19 October.
The District Administration has also taken steps to conduct the puja peacefully. Several meetings with the puja committees has been done. Several temporary police posts has been erected around the town and platoons of police force has been deployed. Also several steps has been taken to manage and control the traffic during the Puja.
