Dhenkanal, Sept 21: More than 500 devotees gathered in rows at a Ganesh Puja mandap in Dhenkanal on Sunday evening to participate in the final aarti of Lord Ganesha.
Holding lamps, flowers and akshata in their hands, devotees joined the priests in chanting mantras and performing aarti to Lord Ganesha. The puja mandap was filled with devotion and emotion as devotees sought the blessings of Gajanan on the final evening of the festival.
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The event was organised by the Bajrang Club in association with the Dhenkanal city Ganesh Puja celebrations. Many devotees became emotional as they bid farewell to Lord Ganesha, with several expressing the feeling that they would have to wait another year for the festival to return.
As Sunday marked the final evening of the celebrations, aarti and farewell rituals were conducted at various puja committees across the city. Preparations for the immersion procession have also been completed.
Immersion Procession on Monday
The farewell procession will be held from 8 am to 8 pm on Monday. Authorities have completely banned DJ music during the procession, while only band parties will be allowed to participate to ensure that the procession remains manageable.
This year’s Ganesh Puja began on September 14, with Lord Ganesha worshipped at 38 puja mandaps across Dhenkanal. The joint Ganesh Puja Action Committee had also organised an auction of the Agyan Laddu on Saturday, adding to the festive atmosphere.
On Monday morning, the tableaux from all puja committees will assemble at the Mini Stadium. A lottery will be conducted to determine the sequence of the tableaux, following which the joint immersion procession will begin.
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The idols will subsequently be immersed at Kathasankha, Jail Pond and Kunjakanta Pond.
Police Step Up Security
Security arrangements have been tightened in view of an altercation between two groups during last year’s immersion procession, which had reportedly continued to create tension for several months.
As part of the security measures, police conducted a foot march through Dhenkanal city on Sunday evening. The march was led by Sadar SDPO Ramesh Chandra Dora and Town Police Station Inspector Dhiren Kumar Behera. Police personnel started from the district police office and marched through the city up to Kaltax.
Joint Ganesh Puja Action Committee president Sudhanshu Kumar Dalai appealed to devotees and participants to maintain peace and discipline during the immersion procession and uphold the dignity of the Ganesh Puja celebrations.
