Durga Puja 2025: BMC Bans Vulgar Acts, Pushes for Clean Festivities

In a decisive move to uphold cultural integrity and public safety, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a sweeping set of guidelines for Durga Puja celebrations this year.

The civic body has banned obscene dance performances at melody shows, citing concerns over the erosion of traditional values.

The directives emerged from a high-level meeting involving the BMC Commissioner, Mayor, corporators, and officials from police, WATCO, and Fire Services. Among the key measures:

• No fairs or Ravana effigy burning in areas lacking proper parking infrastructure.
• Mandatory plastic-free celebrations at all puja venues.
• Ban on decorative gates on main roads to prevent traffic congestion.
• Deployment of control rooms and ambulances at idol immersion points.
• Police-led awareness drives in pandals to combat drug abuse.
• Urgent repairs of damaged electric poles and wires.
• Rs 5 lakh per ward allocated for pothole and road maintenance.
• Removal of stray dogs from puja venues for public safety.

These steps reflect BMC’s commitment to fostering a disciplined, eco-conscious, and culturally respectful festive environment across Bhubaneswar.