Bhubaneswar, Oct. 5: Anganwadi worker Sugyani Swain, 23, who has been staging a demonstration demanding salary hike for the past 22 days on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, today celebrated Lakshmi Puja at the same place.

Like Swain, hundreds of her colleagues also celebrated Kumar Purnima at the same place near the Assembly.

The agitation venue, known as dharna site, is now witnessing celebrations of puja and festivals by agitators camping there. Earlier, the agitators had also celebrated Dussehra and Ganesh Puja at the site.

Swain said: 'I miss my home and family members. As we are on the streets, I have decided to celebrate Kumar Purnima on the streets itself. In the morning, I offered prayers to the rising sun, while in the evening, I prayed to the rising moon.'

The anganwadi workers even put the photos of Goddess Lakshmi on the street and offered the puja following the rituals.

Another anganwadi worker, Kunjalata Biswal, said: 'I have been on the streets for the past 22 days. I have come from Lakshmisagar. But today, I did not even go to my house. Women are considered as the Lakshmi of our families. As we are on the streets, we organised the puja on the streets itself.'

Jyotsna Rani Singh, another agitator, said: 'We hope Goddess Lakshmi will give the required wisdom to the state government to fulfil our demands. We had even organised Dussehra on the streets.'

The workers have been sitting on an indefinite agitation at Lower PMG since September 14 demanding salary hike. Their association's vice-president Jhunupama Satpathy said: 'When the state government employees will get salary according to the 7th Pay Commission's recommendation, why will we get a paltry package of Rs 4,000? We should be given a minimum package of Rs 18,000 for workers and status of government employees.'

In another development, celebrations of Kumar Purnima today kept young girls busy across the state with the folk song ' Kumar punei janha go phula boula beni' echoing all around.

Unmarried girls invoked the moon god with special country cakes prepared for the occasion. A unique dish, the chaanda made of puffed rice, milk, cottage cheese and banana, was offered to the moon god. Girls gathered around the tulasi plants in groups and collectively worshipped the moon, cupping their hands to throw flowers for anjali.

A number of cultural programmes were also conducted across the city on the occasion, mostly with young boys and girls as participants.

'It is a special day for girls. It is not always about getting the perfect husband. The celebrations bring people together. It feel great to wear new clothes during festivities,' said Archana Patnaik, a college student.

This apart, the 11-day Gajalakshmi Puja also begins tomorrow. The festival will be a grand affair in the city with lavish pandals and huge idols.

Vani Vihar, Nayapalli and Sriya Square have maximum number of pandals that have exquisite themes through lighting. Kendrapara and Dhenkanal, famous for the festival, have also made their arrangements. More than 150 pandals have been created in these two places.