Interviewtimes 
The 11 days-long famous and historic Gajalaxmi Puja of Dhenkanal started here without the festive fervor. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, the puja is being celebrated in a low-key manner here strictly following the Covid-19 guidelines.
This year Goddess Gajalaxmi is worshipped in 38 pandals across the city. Every year from the day of Kumar Purnima the puja starts here for 11 days after the visarjan Utsav takes place where goddess Laxmi is bided adieu in ceremonial grand Street procession.
The history of Dhenkanal’s Gajalaxmi Puja is more than 75 years old. The puja started yesterday midnight with the Kalash yatra followed by the traditional rituals.
Sushant Sahoo, a native of Dhenkanal said, ” we are missing the charm of Laxmi puja since last year, there are no such grand decorations and also the height of the goddess is restricted to 4ft tall, we are hopeful that next year we will be able to well Maa in a grand way as we used to in pre-pandemic period.”
Several temporary police camps have been erected and a Police force has been deployed in all the important chowks of the city.
The visarjan yatra will take place on 29th October, where the idols will be immersed in nearby temporary immersion ponds with ‘Ghanta’ and ‘Sankha’ only.
