Cuttack district set to host over 600 pandals for Durga Puja this year | Bhubaneswar News
Cuttack: Durga Puja in Cuttack district will be bigger this year with over 600 pandals set to celebrate the annual festival, marking a surge of more than 100 pandals compared to 2024. District collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, who chaired the Durga Puja preparatory meeting at Saheed Bhavan on Wednesday, said, “This year’s numbers have gone over 600 pandals and that shows the scale and spirit with which people are gearing up to welcome Maa Durga.”“We have taken all precautionary measure for a smooth Durga Puja festival across the district and public safety, discipline and coordination among departments will be the top priority of the administration,” he added.Out of the 600+ pandals, 447 will be set up in rural parts of the district, including areas like Salepur (137), Athagarh (120), Choudwar-Cuttack (87), Banki (57) and Cuttack Sadar (46). Apart from these, permanent puja mandaps and urban pandals in the city has added another 176 to the total count, leading to 623 this year.Last year, there were 512 pandals erected in the district.“We are ensuring a single-window clearance system for permissions, strict fire safety compliance and monitoring of crowd movement and traffic management. Special attention is being paid to eco-friendly practices,” Shinde added.From traditional rituals to themed decorations and grand lighting setups, preparations are in full swing in every nook and corner of the district.Shinde also directed departmental officers to coordinate with puja committees to resolve any local issues related to immersion routes, lighting, sanitation, electricity and law enforcement.While installation of CCTV, toilets, fire extinguishers and first-aid counters will be mandatory at major pandals.“Committee members have been asked to obtain necessary permissions for pandals, immersion processions, Ravana Podi events, Meena Bazaars, swings, and cultural programmes,” SP (rural) Cuttack Vineet Agrawal said.
