PARADIP: Biswakarma Puja, dedicated to the deity of architecture and engineering, was celebrated with gaiety in Port Town on Sunday. Paradip, which is known for its famous Biswakarma Puja, wore a festive look with colourful pandals.
Religious ceremonies were performed to pay obeisance to Lord Biswakarma. Workers in shops and offices worshipped their tools and instruments used in their profession at different places in the town. ‘Kalas Puja’ was performed in the morning while rituals were started at all 30 puja pandals in the afternoon. The devotees also offered prayers to the god of artisans.
The town is agog with activities preparing huge idols installed on pandals built upon scaffolds from Badapadia to Kalyanmandap. Several trade unions and puja committees made their best bid to beautify their pandals.
To attract more devotees, Jagannath Truck Owners’ Association has created a marquee made of bangles. The design of the pandal has been depicted with women bangles that were constructed with different types of colourful 18 lakh bangles. Bengali artisans were pressed into service for over one month to set up the pandal with an estimated cost of `10 lakh.
Earlier, the district administration had organised a preparatory meeting with all puja committees for smooth conduct of the festival. Adequate security arrangements were made to ward off any untoward incident during the festival, police sources said. Chairman of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) Rinkesh Ray inaugurated the information and fire centres and other service provider stalls. Paradip Municipality has also set up a community toilet in the town for the devotees.
The day is believed to be resolution time for workers and craftsmen to increase productivity and gain divine inspiration for creating novel products.