The welcome arch of the Shankarpur-Badambadi Puja Committee’s Durga Puja on Badambadi main road in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Oct. 19: Welcome arches with glittering lights are set to draw people from far-off places to the Millennium City during Durga Puja.

The Shankarpur-Badambadi Puja Committee has made a welcome arch, which is a replica of Melbourne’s Exhibition Centre.

Artistes from Bengal have used over 2,500 bamboos and 250 pieces of wooden poles to create the replica.

A member of the committee said around Rs 7 lakh had been spent to build the arch.

The Shankarpur-Badambadi Puja Committee, which started the tradition of installing welcome gates in 1988, had come up with many marvellous structures, including a huge gate in the shape of Maria Palace of China last year.

“This time also, the organisers have tried their best to ensure that the visitors get a visual treat in the form of a gigantic structure,” said visitor Umesh Rout.

Twenty-five artistes from Calcutta are working to build a replica of Mysore Palace, which is likely to be the centre of attraction for the Khannagar Puja Committee.

“Welcome gates are one of the main attractions, apart from the silver and gold tableaux, here in the city,” said secretary of the Khannagar Puja Committee Prafulla Sahu.

Sahu said that keeping in view the restrictions on noise pollution, the committee had been engaging traditional instruments at the procession for the immersion ceremony for the past couple of years.

The Chandni Chhak committee has engaged lighting artistes from Bengal to erect electronic gates.

The committee had come up with a replica of Ambikeswari temple in Nepal, which was the centre of attraction here last year.

The Chandi Road-Seikhbazar Puja Committee has come up with an electronic welcome arch, depicting the Red Fort, New Delhi.