Cuttack/Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1: The immersion ceremony of Goddess Durga neared completion in the twin cities today with more than two lakh people taking part in the processions this time.
The immersion exercise took place with tight security and passed without untoward incidents.
In Cuttack, a minor clash took place between people of two adjoining localities - Telenga Bazar and BamphiSahi - over the immersion procession that left one person with a minor injury, police said.
Favourable weather conditions, except for a brief spell of rain, ensured a large number of people took part in the immersion ceremony bidding farewell to goddess Durga and her children.
Puja committees in various localities took their idols in a procession to the Kathajodi riverbed near Devigada at Purighat where temporary ponds had been dug up for immersion. This year, Durga idols had been installed at 70 of the 160 Puja mandaps. The remaining mandaps housed idols of Mahadev and Hara-Parvati.
"While 10 of them were immersed yesterday following the Bengali puja tradition, the immersion of the rest started around sunset is expected to be completed before sunrise," said Bhikari Das, secretary of Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee.
For immersion, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation had dug five temporary ponds on the Kathajodi riverbed and prepared them with polythene cover for immersion of all the idols.
"JCB machines (excavators) along with sanitary staff have been engaged for immediate post-immersion clearance from the temporary ponds and dumping at a separate place for being carried away and disposed at the assigned dumping yard", municipal commissioner BikashMohapatra said.
Roads across the city were crowded with improvised vehicles (chasis of trucks) carrying the idols to join the main procession to the Kathajodi. People taking part in the processions swayed to the tunes of cymbals, dholaks, badabajas, ghantas and music.
The 60-decibel sound restriction during the Ganesh Puja had apparently forced most of the Puja committees to opt for traditional instruments for their immersion processions.
"We have preferred to promote traditional instruments and groups from different parts of the state during the immersion ceremony. It is a good trend that several other Puja committees are adhering to sound-pollution norms," said Prafulla Sahoo, secretary of the Khannagar-KhapuriaSilpaAnchal Puja Committee.
Following the heavy deployment of police during Durga Puja -54 platoons of Odisha State Armed Police (OSAP) along with two companies of CRPF - the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police had pressed into duty an additional five platoons of OSAP for the immersion ceremony.
"Elaborate security arrangements have been made along with the deployment of around 200 officers to ensure peaceful completion of the immersion ceremony. As part of the precautionary measures, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at prime locations on the main thoroughfare, the traditional immersion route," said Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh.
More than 50 idols had been immersed by 7.30pm this evening.
Bidanasi resident Satyajit Roy said: "Immersion ceremony is the essence of Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Kartikeswar Puja celebrations in Cuttack."
In Bhubaneswar, the idols were immersed in temporary ponds dug near the Daya and Kuakhai riverbanks after they were taken in processions on three separate routes.
Deputy commissioner of police SatyabrataBhoi said the immersion ceremony went peacefully in the city. Thirty-five platoons of police had been deployed in the state capital for the immersion.
"Liquor shops remained closed today. The immersion of idols of the Old Town area was done during the day and the rest will be completed in the night," said Bhoi.
The police said traffic restrictions were imposed on one side of Janpath between Vani Vihar and Rajmahal Square during immersion. Around 150 traffic personnel were deployed along the immersion route to ensure traffic flow was not hampered.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation created four temporary ponds for immersion of idols. While two of those were on the Kuakhai riverbank near Pandara on the city outskirts, another pit was near Sai temple.
The civic body has also dug another temporary pond on the Daya river along Puri Road.
"The temporary ponds have been well covered with polythene to prevent seepage of water to the river. The size of these ponds have been increased as compared to last year," said Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.
