Cuttack, Oct. 10: From mythological themes to modern day marvels of the world, illuminating lighting works now find place near Puja pandals across the city.

Be it the Draupadi vastra haran, Shiv tandav or the rath yatra of Puri, each Puja committee has spent lavishly on decorating the streets by such innovating the lighting works.

This time, the Khannagar Puja Committee as well as the Malgodown one have come up with 11 electronic welcome arches with various themes and famous structures of the country and the world.

"It has been for the last two years that we had switched to LED-based lighting works to save power. We are happy that most of the other Puja committees are also stressing on the use of modern technology to conserve power," said Khannagar Puja Committee secretary Prafulla Sahoo.

"Apart from the silver and gold backdrops, the lighting decoration by each pandal is another attraction in Puja as not a single road in city is left uncovered," said Karmakar Das, a visitor.

Thirty-four-year-old Srinivas Rao of Andhra Pradesh was also amazed to see the enthusiasm and unity that form the key of organising the Durga Puja in such a grand manner in Cuttack. Besides, the communal harmony also forms the real binding factor among the communities, who actively extend their support and take part in the annual autumn festival every year.

"I had come to Cuttack for some business related work and it is now over two months that I have been witnessing the labour put into in organising the event," said Rao.

The electricity department has formed special squads to ensure that there is uninterrupted power supply during the evening hours near the pandals and streets. "We had earlier launched a drive to ensure whether there is loose ends near the electric poles off various pandals. Besides, a check was also done to ensure no live wires are found hanging near the pandals," said assistant general manager (Cesu division II) A.K. Bisoi.

Police, on the other hand, have seized nearly 940 bottles of country liquor and 516 bottles of Indian foreign liquor that had been sold illegally in the past three days of the festivities in the city.

Deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora akso informed that apart from maintaining law and order, steps had been taken to keep a vigil against mischief mongers and chain snatchers.

In another development, Mangalabag police arrested a four-member gang of women while the criminals were trying to snatch a chain from a woman devotee yesterday.