October 7, 2025

Kendrapada town is all set for a sparkling week-long Gajalaxmi Puja that kicked off this Monday! To keep the festivities safe and secure, a whopping 30 police platoons have been deployed, along with seven temporary police aid posts scattered around the town. Police are on high alert with 40 CCTV cameras watching every corner and two drones soaring above. The excitement was palpable when SP Siddharth Kataria led a grand flag march through the streets on Sunday evening, firing up the town's festive spirit. This year, 68 puja committees have set up vibrant puja mandaps, attracting morning crowds eager to worship Goddess Laxmi. The mood is electrifying but not without a pinch of inflation—Manoranjan Das, a member of the Tinimuhani puja committee, shared, "The cost of organising Gajalaxmi Puja has gone up this year. Some pandal lighting decorators are charging Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh to decorate the pandals." As the curtains rise, most roads glow with festive lights that paint a colorful canvas across areas like Badahat, Kakata, Santasahi, Ichapur, Tinimuhani, Madhial, and Balagandi. But did you know? This dazzling tradition started way back in 1928! The first Gajalaxmi Puja in Kendrapada was launched by the landlord Radhashyam Narendra Srichandan at the New Bus Stand. As his great-great-grandson Sambit Srichandan proudly reveals, "Our puja is now over 97 years old." By 1932, the festival sprouted wings with eight rich locals organizing celebrations in places like Balagandi, Santasahi, Ichapur, Nasidapur, and Gopa. From just one venue to over sixty puja mandaps today, the Gajalaxmi Puja has blossomed like a radiant lotus over nine decades! The festivities will wrap up on October 13 with the ceremonial immersion of the idols. To keep the energy alive and bright, Collector Raghuram R. Iyer confirmed, "Steps have been taken to provide uninterrupted power supply to the puja mandaps to enable devotees to visit the mandaps." So, whether you're a passionate devotee or a curious visitor, Kendrapada's Gajalaxmi Puja offers a dazzling blend of age-old tradition, vibrant community spirit, and tight security that keeps everyone safe during this joyous time.

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Tags: Gajalaxmi puja, Kendrapada, Police security, Festive decorations, Traditional festival, Cctv surveillance,