The 86th edition of Dhenkanal's renowned Gajalaxmi Puja commenced today with the sacred 'Chakshudana' ritual. Spanning 10 days, the grand festival features celebrations across 41 thematic Puja Mandaps, backed by months of tireless preparation from local artisans.
Seven primary mandaps stand out as major attractions, adorned with massive silver backdrops (chandi medhas), golden crowns, and a 10-kilometer stretch of dazzling illumination. Notable architectural marvels this year include a Tirupati temple-inspired fabric arch at Ganesha Bazar, a Vatican-style gateway at Meena Bazar, and impressive structures at Lakshmi Bazar.
To manage the expected influx of hundreds of thousands of devotees, stringent security measures are in place. The police administration has deployed 24 platoons of personnel, 145 police officers (including Addl. SPs, DSPs, and Inspectors), alongside specialized plainclothes squads, CCTV monitoring, and volunteer networks to ensure seamless crowd control, traffic management, and public safety.