Lakhs of Devotees throng to Durga Puja Mandaps in Twin City

Lakhs of devotees throng to various Puja Pandals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on Ashtami and Navami celebrations. Cuttack leads the way in decorating the most beautiful Puja Mandaps in the state and situation is no different this year.

Mahastami and Navami were celebrated with gaiety and aplomb, besides traditional religious fervour. Dazzling lighting, breathtakingly-decorated mandaps and idols and chanting of hymns created the perfect Durga Puja atmosphere, as people visited 70-odd mandaps in Cuttack and 30-odd mandaps in Bhubaneswar.

With Dussehra falls on Sunday, more and more people are likely to take part in the celebrations and in "Ravan Podi" rituals slated to be held later Sunday night. Shahid Nagar and Nayapalli puja mandaps attact the largest number of crowds in Bhubaneswar. Another Puja Mandap at VSS Nagar also provided a fine view of Goddess Durga.