CUTTACK: Like Durga Puja that is being celebrated on a big scale in the Silver City, immersion ceremony too has been planned on an equal scale. All of them have roped in folk artistes, band parties and commissioned massive light gates to add to the grandeur that is associated with ‘Bhasani’ (immersion) ceremony.
In fact, the immersion ceremony after Durga Puja is counted among one of the largest carnivals of Odisha with procession of the Durga idols being taken through the main thoroughfares of the Silver City.
Starting from Saturday night, the traditional route leading to Devigada near Purighat will be packed as the different puja committees would take out their idols in processions to river Kathjodi.
Prior to ‘Bhasani’, a ‘melan’ or traditional get together of the ‘medhas’ would be held at Chandini Chowk. The processions would pass through Ranihat, Mangalabag, Buxi Bazaar, Gourishankar Park through Purighat to reach Devigada.
Sources in the Cuttack Mahanagar Puja Committee said the immersion of six idols of Bengal Puja mandaps, along with the one at Railway Mandap and OSRTC mandap will take place on Sunday and the rest would be completed by 6 am on Monday. “We are planning to complete the immersion rituals by Monday morning as Eid will be celebrated on the day,” said a member of the committee. Procession of idols to the immersion ghat through the main streets will be monitored by mobile police patrolling units and police aid posts set up at strategic spots. Sixty platoons of armed policemen will be stationed at sensitive spots.