Bhubaneswar Bids Grand Farewell to Maa Durga as Immersion Processions Take Over City
Bhubaneswar: The capital city witnessed a grand and emotional farewell to Goddess Durga as elaborate immersion processions wound through major roads on the concluding day of Durga Puja celebrations.
Thousands of devotees gathered across Bhubaneswar to participate in the traditional Bhasani Yatra, turning the city into a vibrant display of faith, culture, and devotion.
Nearly 195 Durga idols from various puja committees across the city were taken out in colourful processions before being immersed in specially constructed artificial ponds set up by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The civic body made extensive arrangements to ensure eco-friendly immersion practices and prevent pollution of nearby rivers.
Unlike previous years, DJs and firecrackers remained absent due to restrictions imposed by authorities.
Instead, traditional cultural performances dominated the festivities. Processions featuring Ghanta, Dhol, Mahuri, Sankirtan groups, and tribal folk dance troupes captivated onlookers and highlighted Odisha’s rich cultural heritage.
Major Bhasani Committees from Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli, Chandrasekharpur, and Old Town coordinated the immersion ceremonies along designated routes.
Nayapalli Bhasani Committee, celebrating its silver jubilee year, led the immersion of 18 idols amid enthusiastic participation by devotees.
The large-scale celebrations, however, triggered severe traffic congestion across the city.
Several roads and stretches of the National Highway witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout the day as procession routes intersected key transport corridors.
Police implemented extensive traffic diversions and deployed multiple platoons to maintain law and order.
Adding to the festive atmosphere were high-value laddu auctions organised by some puja committees.
In North Bhubaneswar, devotees enthusiastically participated in bidding events, with massive laddus fetching prices running into lakhs of rupees.
To ensure smooth and secure immersion ceremonies, police maintained heightened vigilance throughout the city.
Authorities also conducted special operations against snatching gangs during the festive period, leading to arrests and recovery of stolen valuables.
As chants of “Jai Maa Durga” echoed across the city and traditional instruments filled the air, Bhubaneswar offered a heartfelt farewell to the Goddess, marking the end of one of Odisha’s most celebrated festivals with devotion, discipline, and cultural pride.
