The entire Bhadrak district is abuzz with final-stage preparations for Kali Puja and Diwali, where presiding deity Maa Bhadrakali will manifest in the rare 'Saptamatruka' attire for seven consecutive days, alongside the Silver Jubilee celebrations of her shrine's Maha Yajna.
Extensive arrangements are underway across major hubs like Charampa, Bypass, Dhusuri, Basudevpur, and Chandbali. Elaborately decorated mandapas feature social messaging themes, while out-of-state traders have arrived for vibrant meena bazaars, exhibitions, and opera performances. To ensure seamless movement for devotees, authorities have cleared encroachments along National Highway 16 down to the Bhadrak railway station.
The historic shrine celebrations will feature a grand 'Divya Aarti' performed by visiting saints from across the country. Meanwhile, district administration and organizers have prioritized public convenience, undertaking rigorous road widening, drain cleaning, and daily sanitation drives near Puja venues.
Adding a competitive spirit to the devotion, a panel of judges will evaluate pandals on a 100-point criteria to present the prestigious 'Bhadrak Kali Puja Gaurav Samman' to the top three organizers during the nine-day Charampa fair.